Partial flooding

Hailstorms and showers moved across Styria

One of the first heavy thunderstorms of the year swept across Styria on Friday. The fire department had to respond to minor flooding and bus routes in Graz were briefly brought to a standstill.

Heavy rain and hailstorms had Styria firmly in their grip on Friday: "Showers moved from St. Radegund via Weiz to the greater Hartberg area and on towards southern Burgenland", says Ubimet meteorologist Michele Salmi. In many places, hailstones between two and three centimeters in size fell.

A large tree in Thal flew onto the road due to heavy rain.(Bild: Freiwillige Feuerwehr Steinberg-Rohrbach)

The heavy rain caused "smaller, local operations" in some places, says fire department press spokesman Thomas Maier. On Friday night, a tree crashed onto the road in Thal, and during the day there was minor flooding in Wörth an der Lafnitz and Steinberg-Rohrbach. Meier also reported a flooded cellar in Sebersdorf. In Graz, the Schlossbergbahn and some bus lines were briefly at a standstill.

"But the situation is improving quickly," reassures Salmi. Styrians are in for a quiet weekend - local heat storms are only possible in the mountains. However: "Thunderstorms and showers will return from Monday," says the meteorologist.