Unseasonal Snowfall and Flooding Hit Europe

Large swathes of Switzerland and Austria are bracing for unseasonal snowfall, while the Czech Republic faces its worst flooding in decades. Some highlands in the country could see up to 45cm of snowfall over the next two days, according to warnings from the Swiss meteorological agency.

Switzerland and Austria Prepare for Snow

In Austria, forecasters are warning of snow in the centre until September 16, with up to 50cm of snow expected in Salzburg. In the city of Villach in the province of Carinthia, pedestrian and cycle paths along the Drau River will be closed.

Czech Republic Faces Worst Flooding in Decades

Meanwhile, Czech authorities are forecasting unusually heavy rain and a risk of flooding in the central and eastern parts of the country. Some areas could see more than 30cm of rain. Several rivers in nearby Germany could also be affected, according to regional authorities.

Czech Environment Minister Petr Hladik said the current situation in the Czech Republic is similar to the time before the historic floods that paralyzed the country in 1997 and 2002.

Historic Floods in the Czech Republic

The 1997 floods hit the eastern Moravia region, where heavy rainfall killed 50 people and caused billions of dollars in damage. Meanwhile, the 2002 floods, which were mainly in the west of the country, killed 17 people and caused more damage than the 1997 floods.

Preparations and Cancellations

Hydroelectric dam operators are proactively reducing water levels in several Czech reservoirs, while a number of outdoor festivals have been canceled or postponed.

Several towns in Moravia have erected flood barriers and prepared sandbags to withstand the weather, with local forecasters warning of winds of up to 100km/h.

Climate Change and Unusual Weather Events

Other parts of Europe have also been hit by hot weather in recent months. A cold weather system has gripped much of the region, with temperatures in some parts of the northwest dropping to their lowest since April.

These unusual conditions show that climate change is causing more unusual weather events to occur more frequently.

Temperatures are expected to drop to as low as 7 degrees Celsius on September 13, according to the Met Office in London.