Severe storm warning issued for eastern Lithuania

Lithuania's national meteorological service has issued a severe weather warning for eastern parts of the country on Thursday afternoon, with Vilnius, Utena and Panevėžys counties facing the greatest risk.

Emergency alerts were sent to residents' mobile phones shortly before 11am.

Forecasters warn of heavy thunderstorms, intense rainfall, hail and squally winds with gusts of up to 25 metres per second in the worst-affected areas. The storms are expected to develop during the second half of the day.

Residents in the affected counties are advised to stay indoors, keep away from windows and unplug electrical appliances. Those already outside should seek shelter immediately, avoid open ground, tall trees, advertising hoardings, electricity lines and metal structures, and not stand near bodies of water.

Motorists are urged to drive with particular care, keep both hands on the wheel and adjust their speed to road conditions. Fallen trees and branches on roads are a particular concern, and drivers should also be alert to the risk of aquaplaning where water accumulates on road surfaces.

The state road maintenance company says it is monitoring the situation in real time and regional teams are on standby to clear obstructions and restore safe driving conditions.

Winds could bring down trees and branches and cause power outages, while heavy rain may lead to localised flooding on streets.

The remainder of the week will be unsettled. Friday and the weekend are expected to stay rainy with temperatures reaching 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, with occasional thunder and moderate winds.

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