Storm season update: two more storms to batter Estonia this weekend
The weekend will bring more strong winds and sea level rise, met office warns. People are advised to keep an eye on weather forecasts and be prepared for power cuts, blocked roads, and disruptions in ferry services.
Storm Gorm blew over Estonia on Monday and now another cyclone has formed off the coast of Norway, moving toward Stockholm. On the edge of the cyclone a southeasterly storm will hit Denmark and southern Sweden first, arriving on the Estonian coast on Friday afternoon. The wind speed (and seawater level rise are predicted to peak – 32 m/s and up to +155 centimeters in Pärnu respectively – at around midnight.
Although Saturday will be somewhat calmer, Sunday will see the arrival of another storm, this time with gusts of wind up to 33 meters per second.
A first degree warning, meaning that weather could be dangerous in certain situations, has been given for the entire country. A higher, second degree warning has been extended to coastal regions in western and northern Estonia.
Storm warnings (orange - 2nd degree; yellow - 1st degree) for Estonia (Source: ilmateenistus.ee)
However, Ivar Kaldasaun from the Lääne Rescue Center said the storm is unlikely to prove catastrophic. The rescue services are prepared for seawater level rise but they expect wind to cause more damage. Kaldasaun asked people to be reasonable, prepared and take care of themselves and their belongings.
The sea may rise over the critical level in Haapsalu but that is nothing catastrophic either, Kaldasaun said.
Here is a list of numbers that could prove useful (just remember to have your battery charged):
- Medical emergencies and events that pose a direct threat - general emergency number 112
- Power outages (wait 10-15 minutes before calling) - 1343
- Information on trees and other obstacles on the roads - 1510
- Report storm damages in Tallinn - 1345
- Met office's information line - 900 10 32
Editor: M. Oll