Strong wind in Lithuania knocks down trees and cuts power as storm heads for Latvia
On Friday morning strong wind left about 2,200 customers in Lithuania without electricity and toppled trees, one of which fell on three cars in Klaipėda. The storm is expected to reach Latvia in the afternoon and evening, with an orange warning issued for the Kurzeme coast.
Strong wind in Lithuania on Friday morning caused power outages and brought down trees, according to Lithuania's public broadcaster. The storm is moving toward Latvia, where forecasters also expect the wind to strengthen to storm force.
Power outages
According to Energijos skirstymo operatorius (ESO), Lithuania's electricity distribution operator, about 2,200 customers in the Klaipėda and Kaunas districts were without power on Friday morning. Most of the outages were recorded in the Kaunas region, but as the wind intensifies, more reports are coming in from the coast. ESO and contractor crews have already set out to repair the faults.
Fallen trees on the coast
Jolita Orentaite, head of the Communications Division of Lithuania's Fire and Rescue Department, said the wind is bringing down trees along the coast, and in Klaipėda one fell on three cars. She said most reports came from Neringa and the city of Klaipėda. The first report of wind impact arrived at around 8:00 on Friday, and by 10:00 about ten reports had been received, all from the coast. The strongest wind in Lithuania is expected around midday.
Forecast for Latvia
In Latvia, intermittent rain is expected today, heavy in places, and the wind will rise to storm strength. A yellow warning is in force across the country, while an orange warning has been declared for the Kurzeme coast. According to forecasts from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, between 16:00 and 20:00 the western and northwestern wind on the sea coast will strengthen to gusts of 25–29 m/s, and elsewhere in the country up to 22 m/s. The wind will gradually subside in the second half of the night.
