08/16/08 NOW: Baltic States

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

The clock just stroke midnight in Eastern Europe and as the midnight arrives, the situation is following.
I guess we are very well aware of the Polish events. The thunderclouds that hit Poland have now continuing advancing towards the Baltic countries. Weather radar in Riga, Latvia, has already picked up radar echoes from approaching clouds and well, these echoes are off the scale. According to the radars, the thunderclouds will be entering Lithuania or have already done it.

Here is radar from Latvia (http://www.meteo.lv/OPSIS/radars/radars.png)
Here is radar from Estonia (http://www.emhi.ee/inc/other/radaripilt.php?j=sur&v=1)

[Martin North]

Footage of a rather nasty looking wedge...situation ongoing.

http://www.onet.tv/28962,4451,1,3816879,1,1,0,0,wideo.html

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

The thunderstorm in Lithuania appears to be moving rather fast, judging by the Latvian radar, I'd say at least 50 mph, and if it continues to head that fast, I'd expect it to be in my neighborhood in about 3-4 hours(somewhere around 4 AM +- a hour) or so, assuming that the cloud's current speed does not change.

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

The thunder clouds have now entered Latvia and are probably an hour or so away from reaching Estonia. The cloud has now become clearly visible on the EMHI's radar as well. I am also monitoring lightning data from WWLLN using Google Earth and it appears that the lightning activity is increasing near Latvian-Lithuanian border after a decrease in detected strikes earlier this night.

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

I personally had a few claps of thunder a few hours ago around 6 AM, but nothing significant. All the biggest activity seems to be concentrated right now in extreme Eastern Latvia, but so far I have heard nothing from there. Let's see how the day turns out.

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

This is the current situation: Here in Laguja, Estonia, the skies have started to clear. I have noticed that clouds at different heights are moving at different directions. Meanwhile, I am noticing new rainfall areas near Taurages district in Lithuania. Since clouds will be clearing here, I guess this gives opportunity for new thunderstorms to pop up.

Has there been any word from East Latvia?

Update at 11 AM EEST: The cloud in Lithuania has apparently weakened once again, and no thunder right now. Nearest thunders are right now in Poland.

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

During past few hours, it appears that the meteorological situation in the Baltics is escalating once again. For a few hours, Latvian radar has been picking up rainfall in the coast of Baltic Sea. Now, the radar has also picked up strong radar echos indicating cells firing up also inland in Latvia, near Lithuanian border. Looks like there will be another active night possible.