Strong winds cut power to 2,500 and topple coastal trees

About 2,500 customers in Klaipėda and Kaunas districts were without electricity shortly before noon on Friday as strong winds swept Lithuania, LRT reported. The number was up from about 2,200 customers affected in the morning, according to the Energy Distribution Operator (ESO).

Most outages were reported in the Kaunas region, but reports from the coast increased as the winds strengthened. ESO said its crews and contractors were working to restore service, with power typically reconnected in less than two hours.

In coastal areas, winds toppled trees, including one in Klaipėda that fell onto three cars, Jolita Orentaitė, a spokeswoman for the Fire and Rescue Department, told BNS. Most reports had come from Neringa and Klaipėda. The first report was received at about 8 a.m.; by 10 a.m., authorities had received about 10 reports, all from the coast.

The strongest gusts were forecast between noon and 2 p.m., particularly along the coast, where they could reach extreme levels in some places. ESO said about 200 of its own and contractor crews were ready to respond across Lithuania, compared with around 60 on a normal day. Additional crews were being arranged for the weekend, and staffing at dispatch centres had also been increased.

ESO said it had informed municipalities about the forecast storm and urged them to request generators if needed.

Shipping restricted at Klaipėda port

Shipping at Klaipėda port was restricted from 8 a.m. because of strong westerly winds, which were recorded at about 18 metres per second and later rose to 20.8 metres per second, port authority spokeswoman Radvilė Rumšienė told BNS. Waves were between 4 and 6.9 metres high. No vessels were waiting to enter or leave the port at the time.