Latvia braces for one of its strongest storms in recent years tonight

Meteorologists warn that wind across Latvia will strengthen rapidly in the coming hours, with Saturday evening and the night into Sunday expected to bring one of the most destructive storms the country has seen in recent years.

Data from road weather stations in central Lithuania already show gusts reaching up to 30 metres per second — an unusually strong wind for areas far from the sea. Because trees are still in full leaf during summer, even a wind of moderate strength can cause significantly more damage than the same force would in winter.

Wind direction shifting nationwide

In Kurzeme, northerly wind will turn westerly; in Zemgale, westerly wind will dominate; and in Latgale, southerly wind will give way to southwesterly and westerly wind. In Riga and the western part of Vidzeme, the centre of a cyclone is expected to pass through the area in the evening, and as it moves north, westerly wind will intensify sharply.

Across most of Latvia, gusts are expected to reach 25–30 metres per second, with even stronger winds possible along the Vidzeme coast. Calmer conditions are forecast for southwestern Kurzeme and the area around Rūjiena.

Significant damage expected

Forecasters expect the storm to break and uproot many trees, potentially blocking roads and railways and downing power lines. As of 6 p.m., the strongest gust recorded in the country was 26 metres per second in Ventspils, according to data from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.

Given warnings of extremely strong wind, a cell broadcast alert system was activated after 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The State Fire and Rescue Service is urging residents to act responsibly and reconsider evening plans — cancelling outdoor events, removing loose items from balconies and yards that could be blown away, staying indoors, charging mobile phones, and following updates from official authorities.