In mid-September 2024, a slow-moving storm caused widespread flooding across Central and Eastern Europe, causing widespread displacement and widespread damage. Between 11 and 18 September, parts of Austria, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic experienced heavy rain as a low pressure system blocked the region. Dubbed Storm Boris by the UK Met Office, the storm formed when cold Arctic air collided with warm, moist Mediterranean air, forming a “miniature” that would remain stationary for several days. The European Center for Climate Forecasts said rainfall in some areas could be three times the average for the whole month of September. The Czech Republic and Austria were hit hard, with 215 mm (8.5 in) of rain in eastern Austria in one week. Floods engulf rivers and cities, and the consequences reach far beyond the worst-hit areas. The Oder River in southeastern Poland has risen above the highest warning level, and on September 18 it overflowed its banks near Wrocław, inundating nearby farmland. Satellite images from the Landsat 8 operational ground camera capture the extent of the flooding and show large areas submerged under water.
In Slovakia, the Danube River once again burst its banks, flooding parts of the capital Bratislava. Many residents were forced to evacuate their homes as the rain caused flooding. There are many floods along the Danube. In Poland, the situation ended when a dam burst in the Estonian mountain town of Śląskie, near the Czech border, due to severe flooding. By September 20, flooding had spread across central and eastern Europe, including parts of Italy. According to the EU, more than 25,000 people have been displaced in the affected areas. The size and intensity of Hurricane Boris highlighted the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather events that are increasing in the face of global change. The floods destroyed homes, structures and farmland, and recovery efforts are expected to take a long time. Even if the rain stops, thousands of residents of Central and Eastern Europe will feel it for months to come.