Weather in Europe

August 16, 2002

Bigsateuj_122

Provided by: MeteoFrance/Meteosat
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster

The Meteosat satellite image above shows remnants from a storm system, which devastated parts of central and eastern Europe this past week. Some of the worst flooding in at least 100 years was recorded from Austria to southern Russia, and in some locations flooding has been unprecedented. While the rains have stopped, water levels are still well past flood stage for many rivers that drain into the Danube River, Europe's second longest.

The terrible floods have claimed more than 100 lives. Prague in the Czech Republic, Bratislava in Slovakia, Dresden in Germany, and cities in southern Russia near the Black Sea have been especially hard hit. As a result of persistent torrential rains during the last 10 days, the lowland areas of central and eastern Europe have been described as a bathtub without a plug.

On the image above, clearer weather is blessing western Europe. Hopefully this dry high pressure area will migrate eastward over the coming days to help dry out the rest of the continent. However, another storm system is already affecting Ireland, the British Isles and Norway. Note that most all of the area around the Mediterranean Sea is cloud free. Clear, hot weather is typical for this region during the late summer period.

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