Severe thunderstorms to threaten Balkan Peninsula, eastern Europe later this week

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather meteorologist

May 2,2017, 9:05:26AM,EDT

 

 

Several days of locally severe thunderstorms are expected across parts of eastern Europe and the Balkan Peninsula this week.
A slow-moving storm system will produce showers and thunderstorms from northern Greece into Poland, Belarus and western Ukraine.
The worst weather is expected from Serbia into western Romania, eastern Hungary, eastern Slovakia and southwestern Ukraine on Wednesday and Thursday.

Each day will bring the potential for severe thunderstorms with flash flooding and damaging winds being the main concerns.
Localized rainfall amounts over 25 mm (1 inch) per hour are possible which can result in flash flooding.
Wind gusts over 100 km/h (62 mph) will be possible in the strongest storms. Wind gusts of this speed can result in power outages, tree damage and travel disruption.
The strongest storms will also be capable of producing hail and isolated tornadoes. “This threat will be highest during the afternoon and evening hours,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
Related:
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Belgrade, Serbia; Timisoara, Romania; and Budapest, Hungary; are all in the greatest threat area for damaging thunderstorms.

“The highest risk for tornadoes will extend from northeastern Serbia through the border region of Hungary and Romania,” said Roys.
While the greatest threat for severe weather will be on Wednesday and Thursday, there will continue to be widespread showers and thunderstorms across the Balkan Peninsula on Friday, with isolated severe thunderstorms from northern Greece into southwestern Ukraine and far eastern Slovakia.
An unsettled weather pattern will persist across eastern Europe into next week, bringing several additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms.