What Happened in Bratislava
The storm arrived in the capital shortly after 5:00 PM and was accompanied by strong gusts of wind. In city districts like Petržalka, hail fell, and in some places electricity went out. Storm activity moved to our territory from Austria. Aktuality.sk ↗Šinger described the course as extraordinary. "Lightning activity is extraordinary, basically it's constantly flashing and thundering. That's precisely because of those hailstones that are causing it to flicker," he said to Denník N. According to him, this particular combination is the most dangerous: "Damage can really be great, a combination of large hail and strong wind is the worst that can happen." Denník N ↗
The designation of a supercell is so far an assessment by the meteorologist, not an official conclusion. A supercell is a storm with a persistent rotating updraft, and hail, lightning, or strong wind alone do not yet prove it. It will be definitively confirmed only by subsequent analysis of radar data.
From several city districts, reports came in of broken trees and branches on the roads. On the Bratislava bypass near Aupark, a billboard fell, and in another place scaffolding collapsed. A tree blocked Dolnozemská Street at the gas station and queues formed on R7 before the city. iMeteo ↗
For the entire Bratislava district, a first-degree warning is in effect from 4:31 PM until midnight. Meteorologists in it warned of heavy rainfall with intensity of 20 to 30 millimeters and also of hail. HN ↗
SHMU issued warnings for southwest Slovakia for flooding from flash rainfall. For Bratislava, the second level applies, for the Galanta, Šaľa, and Trnava districts the first. In the western half of the territory, at the same time, warnings for storms continue to apply. This fulfilled precisely the threat that Vienna had shown three hours earlier. (Denník N ↗)
Large trees also fell in Petržalka and buried parked cars. Water drains slowly and drivers wade through flooded streets. Panónska Street is flooded under overpasses and difficult to pass, Green Wave STVR recommends bypassing it via the highway bypass. (Denník N ↗, interez ↗)
Petržalka made an official statement. A parking lot fence at Vyšehradská 16 collapsed and fell onto Panónska Street. Lukáš Laczko, head of the city district's communications department, confirmed fallen trees and damaged cars to TASR. He also mentions injuries, but according to initial information they should not be serious. The city district wants to begin monitoring the extent of damage as soon as the weather improves. (Aktuality.sk ↗)
Trees fell on cars on Drieňová Street and Krajinskej Road while driving. Accidents occurred, and public transportation traffic is irregular. Police specifically mentioned impassable streets: Topoľčianska, Budatínska, Rusovská Road and Antolská in Bratislava V, Jesenná in Bratislava II, and the village of Hrubý Šúr in Senec district. The city reports the most incidents from Petržalka, Vrakune, Podunajské Biskupice, and Ružinov. (Denník N ↗, Refresher ↗)
The storm also hit the airport, three flights ended elsewhere. A Wizz Air flight from Košice to Bratislava had to circle above the airport, could not land, and was diverted to Budapest. Similarly, two flights from Pisa and Naples were affected beforehand. (Denník N ↗)
Rescue workers record several injured in Bratislava. The emergency operations center of the emergency medical service has several ambulance call-outs to people injured in connection with the weather, confirmed Petra Klimešová to TASR. According to initial information, several people were injured in Podunajské Biskupice after a roof collapse, and in Ružinov a child was hit by a falling tree on a car. According to TASR, these should be minor injuries. City districts also report collapsed and blown-away fences and destroyed cars, most reports are from Petržalka. (Aktuality.sk ↗)
The tally of Bratislava's damage is growing. A crane collapsed at the shipyard on Vlčí Hill, several city districts report torn roofs. Several city districts report damage, most from Petržalka, along with fallen trees, damaged cars, and interrupted rail connections. (Refresher ↗, Startitup ↗)
Šinger reports at 8:06 PM another storm over Bratislava, stations in the region are approaching 40 millimeters of precipitation. "Today there were probably more storms than in the entire season combined. But it's ending here now," he said. At the same time, he warns that in northwestern Hungary a continuous storm belt is forming, which is connected to Slovak territory and is to pass through parts of Slovakia that have not been rained on. (Denník N ↗)
Three Hours Earlier: South Vienna Under Hail
The Austrian capital was hit by storms from the same system in the afternoon. Around 2:30 PM, Vienna's 23rd district of Liesing was the most affected, but the warning map covered almost the entire city. Meteorologists expected hail up to three centimeters in diameter and warned of water entering basements. For Vienna, a purple alert, i.e., the highest possible warning level, was in effect. Heute.at ↗At 4:00 PM Austrian meteorologists announced a second wave of severe storms with lightning and hail. According to the iMeteo portal, it was to continue toward western Slovakia. iMeteo ↗
The same portal reports that in Liesing, hail fell large almost like ping-pong balls and in Favoriten they formed a continuous white layer on terraces. Flash rainfall was to flood streets and underpasses, and Vienna firefighters had several interventions. iMeteo ↗
The same storm situation in Germany claimed lives. In Thuringia, falling branches killed a family man on the way to kindergarten, German media report two dead from falling trees. (Deutschlandfunk ↗)
Germany's meteorological service confirmed two tornadoes, storms there claimed two victims. A tornado near Wetzlar in Hesse damaged about 60 homes, the second hit Brandenburg. The DWD confirmed this through the DPA news agency. In Rhineland-Palatinate, a woman died in the storm, in the Thuringian village of Georgenthal a man, on whom parts of a tree fell. (Deník ↗)
Vienna's course is a warning for Slovakia as well. It shows that the threat does not have to be only gusty wind, which Slovak forecasts focused on, but also flash rainfall, which in a short time will flood underpasses and basements.
Where the system is heading
From Bratislava, the storm activity is moving further east, with precipitation affecting most of western Slovakia. Strong rain and wind have been reported in the western part of the country. Pluska.sk ↗SHMÚ issued a first-degree storm warning for the entire Bratislava, Trnava, Nitra, Trenčín, and Žilina regions, for multiple districts of the Banská Bystrica region, and for the Kežmarok, Poprad, and Stará Ľubovňa districts. It is effective from 17:00 until midnight, in some districts until Friday morning. The institute warns that the intensity of accompanying phenomena is typical for this time of year, but can cause minor damage. Pravda ↗
Before the system's arrival, meteorologists warned of the possibility of a bow echo. This is a linear storm formation that appears on radar as an arc shape, and whose main threat is extensive wind gusts, which in an unfavorable scenario can exceed 100 kilometers per hour. Such wind can uproot trees, damage roofs, and electrical lines. Refresher ↗
The difference between scenarios is quite significant. The official SHMÚ warning anticipated wind gusts of 65 to 85 kilometers per hour, while the more unfavorable scenario discussed by meteorologists spoke of up to 120 kilometers per hour. Which one will materialize will only be shown by the measured values from the weather stations. Pravda ↗
The more unfavorable scenario materialized. Wind gusts of 100 to 110 kilometers per hour were recorded in Petržalka. The official SHMÚ warning, meanwhile, anticipated 65 to 85 kilometers. Around 100 kilometers per hour were also reported in the Austrian towns of Kittsee and Berg just across the border. (iMeteo ↗)
The bow echo that meteorologists warned about began forming at 18:34 west of Nitra. The storm line arced into a bow shape on radar. The system is moving through the Danube lowlands toward Nitra and Zlaté Moravce, further over central Slovakia and overnight toward the east. The strongest gusts could locally reach or exceed 100 kilometers per hour. (iMeteo ↗)
In South Moravia, firefighters had approximately 30 callouts by 17:30 with more arriving. They are intervening mainly in the Břeclav and Hodonín areas, where wind is uprooting trees and tearing off roofs. (Blesk ↗)
Nitra holds the day's record. The Nitra – Veľké Janíkovce station recorded around 18:00 a gust of 33.1 m/s, or approximately 119 km/h, with Denník N later reporting 120 km/h. This is higher than in Bratislava and significantly above the original SHMÚ warning of 65 to 85 km/h. Around the town, trees fell between Badice and Lefantovce, where a traffic accident occurred, the road between Ivanka pri Nitre and Brančo was blocked, and branches lay between Veľký Cetín and Vinodol. Without power remained Krškany, part of Ivanka pri Nitre and repeatedly Svätoplukovo. (iMeteo ↗, Denník N ↗)
At 19:47, SHMÚ elevated storm warnings to second degree for six regions. These are Bratislava, Nitra, Trnava, Trenčín, Banská Bystrica, and Žilina. The warnings apply to all of Slovakia except the east. The institute expects "temporary significant local water level rise, mainly on small streams" and warns of flooding in underpasses, subways and roads. (Refresher ↗)
Rail transport is disrupted toward Austria and Hungary. The worst situation is in the section from Bratislava through Petržalka to Austria, with reports of fallen trees on tracks and power outages. Earlier in the evening, traffic was also interrupted between Galanta and Šaľa. In the Trnava region, they have power outages and fallen trees in Voderadov. (Denník N ↗, Denník N ↗)
Trees also fell on highway D2 and a second wave is following the first. The second wave is moving through the Trnava region into the Nitra region and further east, meteorologists warn that special caution is needed especially in the Danube lowlands. Overview of recorded gusts: Nitra approximately 119 km/h, Petržalka 102 to 110, Bratislava airport approximately 93. (iMeteo ↗)
Between Ivanka pri Nitre and Brančo, firefighters are removing fallen trees. The Nitra portal Nitralive.sk published two videos from the section with over 120,000 views combined. The section was blocked during the bow echo passage, and part of the village also lost power. (Nitralive.sk ↗)
The first concrete power outage figures came from the Czech Republic. In South Moravia, approximately 4,500 connection points are without power. The most common cause is trees and branches in electrical lines, with the Břeclav and Hodonín areas most affected. This was confirmed by E.ON spokesman Lubomír Boudný. The Slovak figures from Western Slovakia Distribution have not yet been made available. (Aktuálně.cz ↗)
A second wave of storms is moving over the Nitra region. According to iMeteo, it is moving through the Trnava region into the Nitra region and further east, with special caution needed especially in the Danube lowlands. Recorded wind values and lightning strike counts from the second wave are not yet available. (iMeteo ↗)
Firefighters had 261 callouts after Thursday's storms. The most were in the Bratislava region with 99, followed by Trnava with 64 and Nitra with 63. They intervened least in the Žilina and Prešov regions. "Most often it involved interventions related to removing fallen trees and branches that blocked roads or posed a danger to their surroundings," said spokeswoman for Fire and Rescue Headquarters Ľubica Vlčková Laluhová. Firefighters also pumped water out of flooded spaces and intervened with damaged roofs. (STVR ↗)
In the Trnava region, 104 volunteer firefighters from 23 municipalities assisted. The regional Fire and Rescue Headquarters in Trnava reported 43 interventions in 24 hours, most in the Galanta district with eight. In addition to 33 members of the regular force, they deployed 104 volunteer firefighter members and 37 pieces of equipment. They pumped water from residential buildings and repaired damaged roofs. The regional figure of 43 differs from the national tally, which lists 64 interventions for the Trnava region. (trnava.zoznam.sk ↗)
In the south of the Nitra region, floods threatened, with trains stopped between Hul and Podhájska. SHMÚ issued a first-degree flood warning Thursday evening for the districts of Nové Zámky, Komárno, Šaľa, and Nitra. For Nové Zámky district, a second-degree storm warning was also in effect until midnight with the possibility of 30 to 50 millimeters of precipitation in half an hour. The warnings were dropped shortly after 23:00. National media barely covered this part of the country. (MY Nové Zámky ↗)
Police clarified that the Shipping Bridge and D2 involved two separate incidents. A noise barrier fell on the Shipping Bridge in the direction of expressway R7, while on highway D2 at kilometer 66.5 in the direction of Hungary a fallen tree blocked the pull-off lane and right lane. The exit from Dolnozemská Road was also flooded and difficult to pass. (Bratislavak ↗)
This is the final update of this article. The firefighter report was the last of the indicators we tracked from Thursday evening. If Friday's storms bring further damage, we will report on them separately. Ongoing coverage with over sixty posts remains in our live thread [Storms and bow echo over Slovakia](/breaking/burky-bow-echo-slovensko-0820).
After the storms, a significant weather pattern change and cooling are expected to reach Slovakia. Pluska.sk ↗
If You Are in the Path
The system is moving from Bratislava to the east, passing through the Trnava and Nitra regions. Based on the Vienna and Bratislava developments, you should expect two threats simultaneously: wind gusts and heavy rainfall.Do not park your car under trees or next to scaffolding and billboards. Clear balconies and yards of loose objects that the wind could carry away.
Do not enter flooded underpasses. In Vienna, it was the heavy rain that flooded streets and subways in a short time, and basements were also at risk.
Follow current SHMÚ warnings for your district. First degree means a typical summer storm with minor damage, higher degrees do not.
What hotinfo is monitoring
- The tally of fire and rescue service call-outs in the Bratislava and Trnava regions. As of the evening of August 20 it had not been published.→ Počas búrok, ktoré večer zasiahli viaceré oblasti Slovenska, zaznamenali hasiči…Hasiči zaznamenali vyše 260 výjazdov, najviac v Bratislavskom, Trnavskom a Nitrianskom kraji (TASR uvádza 261).
- The number of supply points without electricity according to Západoslovenská distribučná, and when supply is restored.→ Po štvrtkovej búrke bolo bez elektriny vyše desaťtisíc odberných miest na väčši…ZSD: ráno bez elektriny približne 8 600 odberných miest na západe, vyše 400 porúch; najhoršie Bratislava, Dunajská Streda, Trnava, Nitra a Komárno. Kalamitu ZSD nevyhlásila.
- Confirmation of the recorded maxima by official SHMÚ data. The figure of 100 to 110 kilometres per hour from Petržalka so far comes from a weather portal, not from the institute.SHMÚ v Petržalke stanicu neprevádzkuje — v Bratislave meria na Kolibe, Letisku a v Mlynskej doline, takže údaj z Petržalky nemá čím potvrdiť. Jeho verejné operatívne údaje navyše pokrývajú teplotu, zrážky, tlak, slnečný svit a teplotu pôdy, nie vietor, a k búrke z 20. augusta nezverejnil ani rozbor v aktualitách. Hodnota 100 až 110 km/h tak zostáva z meteorologického portálu.
- Whether the bow echo strengthens on its way across central and eastern Slovakia, or weakens overnight.→ Búrka v Nitrianskom kraji lámala stromy, zastavila vlaky, tisíce bez prúduBow echo prešlo Podunajskou nížinou a maximum dosiahlo pri Nitre — stanica Janíkovce namerala podľa portálu iMeteo približne 119 km/h. Na strednom Slovensku už len výpadky, vyše 2 000 odberných miest.
- Whether any municipality along its path declares an emergency.→ V Kajali a okolí po búrke vyhlásili mimoriadnu situáciu, obec je bez elektriny …Mimoriadnu situáciu vyhlásila obec Kajal v okrese Galanta — bez elektriny, pitnej vody a s nefunkčnou kanalizáciou.
Illustrative photo: thunderstorm system over southern Germany. Author Kreuzschnabel, Wikimedia Commons, license CC BY-SA 3.0.
