Central Europe braced for worst flooding in years

Central Europe is currently preparing for what could be the worst flooding in many years. In Poland, four southern provinces are identified as the areas most at risk. In response to the impending weather, sandbags are being filled in Austria, and reservoirs have been drained in the Czech Republic to accommodate the heavy rainfall that is forecasted. Meteorologists are warning of days filled with potentially catastrophic rainfall. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has reassured the public, stating there is 'no reason to panic' after attending a flood risk briefing in Wroclaw, where forecasts predict around 15 centimeters of rain in the four southern provinces. Meanwhile, in Austria, heavy rain combined with snow in the mountains has already caused travel disruptions. Chancellor Karl Nehammer has announced that the army is prepared to deploy up to 1,000 soldiers if the situation worsens. The Czech capital is taking precautions, especially after the devastating floods that hit the city two decades ago. The memories of the 2002 floods, which saw metro stations submerged, residents evacuated in boats, and even elephants drowning in the Prague Zoo, are still fresh in the minds of many. To prevent a repeat of such disasters, workers in Prague have been busy closing floodgates on the River Vltava. Just before 10:00 AM on Friday, a heavy steel gate was closed to block the so-called Devil's Canal, a narrow waterway that runs through the historic Mala Strana district of Prague before merging back into the River Vltava. This gate is part of a comprehensive network of flood defenses that has cost over one billion euros to construct, aimed at preventing the catastrophic damage seen in 1997 and 2002. Prague is hopeful that it can avoid the worst of the flooding this time around. Attention is particularly focused on the central and eastern regions of the country, especially North Moravia, where 50 lives were lost in the floods of 1997. The Jeseniky mountains are expected to receive around 400 millimeters of rain over the next three days, which will then flow down the River Oder and into Poland, affecting numerous towns and villages along the way. The GeoSphere Austria weather map on Friday displayed a significant band of rain across Central Europe. After attending a briefing with emergency services in southwestern Poland, Donald Tusk sought to reassure the public that the forecasts were 'not overly alarming' and that there was no reason to expect anything that could pose a threat to the entire country. The Polish territorial army is on standby, and in the province of Malopolska, an estimated two million sandbags have been stockpiled, with another million available in Lower Silesia, the province surrounding Wroclaw. Tusk emphasized that they are preparing for localized flooding or flash floods. Reports indicate that thousands of residents in Wroclaw have had to use the staircases of their high-rise buildings because the elevators were shut down due to flooding fears. The Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management later raised the highest alert level from the four southern provinces to the mouth of the River Odra in Szczecin, where it flows into the Baltic Sea. Austria has experienced its hottest August on record, according to the Geosphere Austria federal institute. Now, they are warning of 10 to 20 centimeters of rainfall in many regions over the next few days, with some areas, particularly in the mountains of Upper and Lower Austria and northern Upper Styria, potentially receiving over 20 centimeters. Heavy snowfall has already been reported in Austria's Tyrol region. The Austrian storm warning center has indicated that in some areas, previous records for the entire month of September will be 'surpassed in just a few days. ' Manuel Kelemen, a forecaster for Puls24 TV, stated that from a meteorological perspective, 'what we're experiencing is extraordinary, if not unprecedented. ' The railway network OEBB has advised passengers to postpone any non-urgent journeys. Part of the Tauern railway line between Bad Hofgastein and Böckstein in Salzburg has been closed due to heavy snowfall. Flooding and landslides are possible, and strong winds are expected in the capital, Vienna. The aid organization Caritas has called for volunteers to assist in the affected areas. Continuous heavy rain is also anticipated across the border in the German state of Bavaria. While this situation is a regional issue rather than a national emergency, it serves as a reminder of the significant impact on a large area of Central Europe. Earlier this week, Czech officials had to decline a German request to halt the draining of reservoirs into the River Vltava, which flows into the River Elbe and subsequently to Germany. These reservoirs, known as the Vltava Cascade, need to be half-empty to accommodate the heavy rainfall expected this weekend.