Storms hit Austria with 190,000 lightning strikes in one day

Heavy rain and hailstorms caused damage across Austria on Friday, with weather forecasting service UBIMET recording 190,000 lightning strikes in the Alpine country in a single day, the highest figure this year.

In the western state of Vorarlberg, rainfall in the Rhine Valley near Lake Constance was so heavy that trees buckled, roofs were blown away and roads were flooded due to blocked drains.

Due to the large quantity of run-off water flowing into the Rhine, authorities closed off areas near the river to the public as a precaution.

The Austrian Hail Insurance (Österreichische Hagelversicherung) company estimated the total damage in Vorarlberg at around €1.2 million ($1.3 million). More than 5,000 hectares of crops were devastated, it said.

Roads in the neighbouring state of Tyrol that were blocked by mudslides were partially reopened on Saturday. The Oberinntal and Villgratental roads remained closed.

In the south-eastern state of Styria, storms caused flooding and fallen trees. Meanwhile, in the neighbouring southern state of Carinthia, emergency services were deployed to several lakes to rescue swimmers, stand-up paddlers and surfers who were unable to reach the shore due to strong waves.

Around 40 flights had to be cancelled at Vienna Airport on Friday evening due to the adverse weather conditions.