Part of the Czech Republic will be covered with snow. Meteorologists warn of snow drifts

“The intensity of the snow will also gradually increase in the mountains in the northeast (in the belt from Orlické hory to Jeseníky), where we still expect a total of 15 to 35 cm of new snow to fall by Sunday. It will snow in the Beskydy Mountains until the middle of Monday, January 13, and a total of 20 to 45 cm of new snow can fall here (including adjacent areas), with the expected maximum in the higher parts of the mountains,” said the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ).

The warning against heavy snow and drifts is valid from Saturday morning until Sunday noon for the area above 800 meters above sea level, namely in parts of the Hradec Králové Region (Dobruška, Rychnov nad Kněžnou), Pardubice Region (Králiky, Lanškroun, Žamberk), Olomouc Region (Jeseník, Šumperk), and the Moravian-Silesian Region (Bruntál, Rýmařov). The same warning applies until Monday for the Beskydy Mountains and their surroundings.

It will be windy in the mountains, this can contribute to the formation of snow tongues. “In the mountainous regions in the north and northeast, we expect a stronger northwesterly wind, which, in combination with new powdery snow, will create snow tongues and drifts. The wind will gradually weaken on Sunday, but in the Beskydy Mountains we expect it to weaken only on Monday, which is why the warning has been extended,” the meteorologists added.

The updated warning on Saturday follows on from the ČHMÚ’s warning on Friday about heavy snowfall and the formation of snowdrifts in the north and northeast of the Czech Republic. Up to 25 centimeters of snow has fallen in mountainous areas since Friday.

When driving a car in the mountains, drivers should not forget winter equipment, snow chains and tools for eventual recovery of the vehicle.

On Saturday, the Krkonoše mountain service increased the level of avalanche danger in the Czech part of the Krkonoše from first to second after heavy snowfall. It indicates a moderate risk of avalanches, conditions for hikes are mostly safe. On Sunday, according to the Mountain Service, the level of danger could increase to three.