Wind gusts of up to 80 km/h

Civil defense warns of storms in Styria

In Kaindorf bei Hartberg, several fallen trees blocked paths and roads

(Bild: FF Kaindorf)

Several thunderstorm cells moved across Styria on Sunday afternoon! The civil protection association and the provincial warning center had warned of heavy rain, gusts of wind and hail. Fire departments had to be called out near Kaindorf. The clean-up work after the last severe storms in Aflenz and Thörl is still ongoing. 

"Thunderstorms with heavy rain, squalls and hail are expected in the early afternoon!" A warning that is unfortunately nothing new for the people of Styria this summer. "The most dangerous time is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., after which the weather will calm down quickly from the north," it says.

Warnings are issued for small-scale flooding and branches falling in the wind. The banks of rivers should also be avoided.

Front moved over Graz and eastern Styria
From around 1.40 p.m., a heavy hailstorm actually moved over the city center of Graz. It rained, hailed, flashed lightning and thundered violently, strong gusts of wind knocked over building site grids and street signs. After less than 20 minutes, the front had cleared again.

At 1.50 pm, the regional warning center sent out an acute weather warning. Rainfall of up to 45 milliliters and wind gusts of up to 80 km/h are possible until 3.30 pm. The districts of Hartberg-Fürstenfeld, Graz, Deutschlandsberg, Leibnitz, south-eastern Styria, Weiz, Graz Umgebung and Voitsberg are affected. "Several thunderstorm cells are forming in the Randgebirge area," it said. 

The Kaindorf fire department was called out to numerous operations, roofs were covered and cellars flooded.

(Bild: FF Kaindorf)

Pictures on social media show a lightning strike in the bell tower with the "Liesl" on the Schloßberg. There was a breakdown on the Bim line 5 due to damage to the overhead line.

Shortly afterwards, several fire departments in the Hartberg and Kaindorf area had to be called out for storm operations and pumping work. "Fortunately, it's not that bad," says Matthias Novacek, spokesman for the regional fire brigade association.

"We had 26 damage incidents in the afternoon, including flooded cellars and fallen trees," reports Johannes Kellner, commander of the Kaindorf fire department.

According to GeoSphere, the precipitation caused a slight cooling during the night. On Monday, it quickly returned to 30 degrees under sunny skies with scattered clouds. The trend will continue until the middle of the week: warm days but cooler nights.

Armed forces still in action
In Thörl and Aflenz, the Austrian Armed Forces have been working for several days to clear blockages in the overflowing Feistringbach stream. Eleven soldiers will be deployed here until the middle of next week. 

The army is helping to clear up storm damage in Aflenz.

(Bild: Renzl/Bundesheer)

The drinking water in Thörl and parts of Aflenz was contaminated by the storms and is currently gradually improving. Mayor Günther Wagner announced on social media that it is expected to be drinkable again without boiling at the beginning of the week.