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The Guardian World1 min read
Weather tracker: Severe thunderstorms sweep Europe and east Asia
TL;DR
Severe thunderstorms caused widespread destruction across the Balkans last week, with wind gusts reaching 65mph in Slovenia and significant damage reported in Croatia. Similar conditions were observed in Hong Kong, where a black rainstorm warning was issued.
Key points
- Severe thunderstorms swept across the Balkans last week
- Wind gusts reached 65mph in Slovenia
- Over 100 buildings damaged in Komenda, Croatia
- Black rainstorm warning issued in Hong Kong
- Hail the size of golf balls reported
Mentioned in this story
SloveniaCroatiaBosnia and HerzegovinaGreeceHong Kong
Severe thunderstorms swept across the Balkans last week bringing widespread destruction to many areas. The storms developed as unstable hot air sat over the Adriatic Sea while a cold front plunged south-eastward.
The cold front began its journey southwards on 10 June in Slovenia where the Slovenian Environment Agency recorded wind gusts of 65mph at Ljubljana airport. Heavy rain also fell widely across the region with 23mm reported in Kranj.
Alongside heavy rain, hail the size of golf balls plummeted from the sky as the front edged south-eastwards towards Croatia. One of the worst affected areas was the Komenda municipality where the local fire department reported more than 100 buildings had sustained damage, with some homes losing their roofs to the violent gusts of wind. In the early hours of 11 June, the storm edged south-eastwards into parts of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and later into Greece on 12 June.
Conditions have been similar on the opposite side of Eurasia as the Hong Kong observatory issued a black rainstorm warning on Thursday. When a black warning is issued, outdoor workers are expected to take shelter until it is safe and schools are closed.
Intense downpours and thunderstorms swept across Hong Kong last week. Photograph: China News Service/Getty Images
Hourly rainfall totals exceeded 70mm, only 10 days after the first black warning was issued on 8 June, bringing widespread flooding to the area. Rain is not the only hazard that struck the region as wind speeds of 50mph were recorded in the district of Tai O.
France has experienced heatwave conditions recently with temperatures in the mid-to-high 30s degrees celsius, affecting a large swathe of the country. The heat will not relent as temperatures reaching 41C are expected in the coming days.
This heatwave has been particularly unusual, and will continue to be so, as the bulk of the heat has been concentrated in northern and western France, areas that are climatologically cooler than those such as the Rhone valley which typically records the highest temperatures in heatwaves.
Q&A
What areas in the Balkans were affected by the recent thunderstorms?
The thunderstorms primarily affected Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Greece, causing significant damage in municipalities like Komenda.
What was the impact of the thunderstorms in Slovenia?
In Slovenia, wind gusts of 65mph were recorded, and heavy rain led to widespread damage, including 23mm of rainfall in Kranj.
What does a black rainstorm warning mean in Hong Kong?
A black rainstorm warning indicates that outdoor workers should seek shelter, and schools are closed until conditions improve.
