Key actors — tap for context
Czech Hydrometeorological Institute
The Czech state meteorological and hydrological service, which issues warnings for dangerous weather.
Why here: It declared a meteorological alert and is switching to a new warning system from Wednesday.
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Jindřichův Hradec
A district town and region in southern Bohemia, in the South Bohemian Region.
Why here: Lightning struck a tree at a children's camp in the Jindřichův Hradec region, injuring six people.
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Vyškov
A town in southeastern Moravia, in the South Moravian Region.
Why here: A supercell formed in its vicinity on Tuesday evening, captured by an eyewitness.
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Šumava
A mountain range and national park in southwestern Bohemia, on the border with Germany and Austria.
Why here: Hailstones nearly ten centimeters in size fell in its foothills on Monday.
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Praha
The capital city of Czechia.
Why here: Despite forecasts, it was almost completely spared by the storms.
More info →Lightning at the camp: man unconscious, five children hospitalized
All components of the integrated rescue system responded at the scene. According to Petra Kafková, spokesperson for the South Bohemian Rescue Service, the lightning did not strike the people directly but hit a nearby tree under which they were standing. The man, who briefly lost consciousness, was flown to hospital by helicopter, while five minors were taken away by ambulance in stable condition. Deník ↗The first reports were incomplete. "We don't yet have complete information that we could provide to the media. I know that we are assisting there," said Lenka Krausová, spokesperson for the South Bohemian Police, shortly before ten in the evening. At that time, the South Bohemian Region was hit by another wave of storms, which also swept through the Jindřichův Hradec area. Novinky ↗
Supercell over Vyškov
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) declared a meteorological alert on Tuesday evening. Isolated but very strong storms formed along the border between Bohemia and Moravia, and a supercell formed near Vyškov, which was captured by an eyewitness. Hailstones around five centimeters in diameter fell in the area, and meteorologists also warned of strong wind gusts. Lidovky ↗ Storms with five-centimeter hail also moved across southern Moravia. Novinky ↗Hail like tennis balls and a washed-out railway track
The largest hailstones, however, fell as early as Monday in southern Bohemia. In the Vimperk and Prachatice areas, the largest recorded — in the Šumava village of Ratiborova Lhota — reached nearly ten centimeters; according to the ČHMÚ, ten-centimeter hailstones last fell in Czechia on July 1, 2022, in Rovensko pod Troskami in the Český ráj (Bohemian Paradise) area. iROZHLAS ↗ The hailstorm damaged roofs, greenhouses, and cars, and struck one local resident in the back, but according to meteorologists it did not cause more serious injuries or extensive damage. Novinky ↗Water from Monday's storm also waterlogged the railway track on the Čkyně–Vimperk section. Repairs in the hard-to-access terrain are expected to take until roughly mid-August, and in the meantime the operator GW Train has deployed replacement bus service. iDNES ↗
Praha nearly rain-free, and a new warning system
Paradoxically, the capital stayed almost dry. Monday's forecasts had expected storms over Praha, but the city saw almost no rain — the storms first appeared in southern Bohemia and moved north across the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, bypassing the Praha area. According to meteorologists, the urban heat island is not to blame for this. Seznam Zprávy ↗ In addition, from Wednesday, July 1, the ČHMÚ is switching to a new warning system that, instead of relying mainly on climatological criteria, focuses on the actual impacts of hazardous phenomena. Novinky ↗What hotinfo is following
- The health condition of the man from the camp, who was flown to hospital by helicopter after briefly losing consciousness.
- The damage toll in southern Bohemia after Monday's hailstorm, and in southern Moravia and the Vysočina region after Tuesday's storms.
- Restoration of the Čkyně–Vimperk railway (mid-August announced).
- The ČHMÚ's new warning system — whether it will change risk communication during future storms.
- A weather turnaround — meteorologists are forecasting a return of heat and drought and the so-called "heat lid," as Czech media describe it — a layer of hot air over the country. We are watching to see whether another wave of storms follows.
Also read: Lightning near Kráľova hoľa struck three Czech tourists
