Heavy rainfall in the Czech Republic is anticipated to impact neighboring Poland, Germany, Austria, and Slovakia. Additionally, the Bavarian Alps are expected to experience the first heavy snowfall of the year.

Large parts of central Europe are preparing for potential flooding this weekend as heavy rainfall is expected across various countries including Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria.

Local meteorological stations predict that up to 400 mm of rain could fall on the highlands along the Polish-Czech border within just 72 hours, which is likely to affect neighboring regions and nearby towns and cities.

In Poland, authorities have issued their highest weather warning for the southern voivodeships of Lower Silesia, Opole, and Silesia. The mayor of Wroclaw has convened a crisis committee in response to the impending threat. The city experienced significant flooding in 1997 when the River Oder burst its banks.

The Polish weather service has warned of a realistic risk of local inundations from Friday to Sunday.

In the Czech Republic, forecasters are predicting heavy rain and winds reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour in the eastern region of Moravia. Towns and cities in this area are actively installing anti-flood barriers and preparing sandbags. Czech Environment Minister Petr Hladik has drawn comparisons to the devastating floods of 1997 and 2002, which caused significant loss of life and extensive damage.

As was the case in 2002, the weather conditions in the Czech Republic may impact Germany, particularly in the eastern city of Dresden, where authorities are still managing the aftermath of a collapsed bridge over the River Elbe. Czech authorities have indicated that they will be unable to manage or lower water levels in the Elbe, which flows into Saxony.

In response, Austria and Slovakia have canceled events and are preparing to deploy military personnel to support emergency services. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced that up to 1,000 soldiers are on standby, with forecasts suggesting that the River Danube might reach five-year or even ten-year-high levels. Slovak fire brigade chief Adrian Mifkovic has stated that mobile dams measuring between five and six kilometers are ready for deployment, and both the Slovak army and voluntary firefighters are on high alert.

In southern Germany, between 60 and 100 mm of rain are expected in some Bavarian Alpine regions, with the German Meteorological Service (DWD) also forecasting the first heavy snowfalls of the year. Up to 50 centimeters of fresh snow could fall in areas above 1,500 meters.