Storm aftermath: around 277,000 households still without power Sunday morning

A very strong storm hit Latvia on Saturday evening and overnight into Sunday, causing the most extensive electricity supply disruptions in the past 20 years. By Sunday morning, roughly 277,000 households were left without power.

The strongest wind gusts were recorded near Daugavgrīva in Riga, reaching 31 meters per second.

Transmission network damage

At 7 a.m. Sunday, disruptions were recorded at 46 of more than 150 substations belonging to transmission operator AST. Five 330-kilovolt lines and 44 lines with a voltage of 110 kV were damaged; three of the 110 kV lines have already been restored.

Damage to the transmission network began after 6 p.m. on Saturday. By 10 p.m., disruptions had affected power supply in numerous areas, including around Olaine, Jelgava, Ķekava, Madona, Dobele, Līvāni, Jēkabpils, Augšdaugava, Aizkraukle, Viesīte, Ludza, Zilupe, Krāslava, Dagda, Ilūkste and Subate, as well as Ugāle in Ventspils municipality. Power was restored more quickly around Jaunpils.

After 10 p.m., as the storm intensified, further damage occurred, affecting Salaspils, Riga, Iecava, Bauska, Ķegums, Baldone, Ogre, Aizkraukle municipality, Viļāni, Varakļāni, Rēzekne municipality, Lubāna, Preiļi, Ieriķi, Inčukalns, Cēsis and Sigulda municipalities, Lielvārde and Līvāni. Supply was restored promptly around Pļaviņas and Ērgļi.

Repair work continues

AST says all available company resources will be deployed on Sunday to address the technical faults and restore power supply, working together with distribution operator Sadales tīkls (ST).

ST says hazardous weather conditions are hampering crews' work — access to damaged sites is hindered by trees felled by the storm and by areas flooded due to heavy rain. A full picture of the extent of the damage can only be obtained once the transmission network has been restored. The main cause of damage in the distribution network is trees and branches falling on overhead lines, along with damaged poles.

ST staff are working in an intensified regime, including through the night where possible, but the company warns that restoring supply for some customers could take several days.

According to forecasts from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, heavy rain and strong wind gusts will continue across most of the country on Sunday, gradually easing during the day to 15-19 meters per second, while reaching 20-23 meters per second along the eastern coast of the gulf in the morning.