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Meteorologists have warned of the risk of local flooding in the north of the country after days of heavy rain and with more showers predicted over the next couple of days. Weather forecasters say that the flood alert could last until Wednesday morning. Up to 30 millimetres of rain are expected to fall in the next two days.

The cabinet on Monday approved a proposal to build a small dam on the river Opava in North Bohemia. The artificial lake is designed to prevent the nearby towns of Krnov and Opava from floods. The project was approved in spite of criticism from environment activists and the inhabitants of the nearby village of Nové Heřminovy who will have to move out of their homes to make way for the dam. The owners of the buildings are to receive compensations.

Local authorities in south Bohemia declared a high-degree flood alert in several areas on Saturday morning as water levels on rivers in the Šumava Mountains and the Klatovy district rose following heavy rains on Friday night. Meteorologists expect the Vltava River in the region to swell, too, as heavy rains are expected to continue throughout the weekend.

Meteorologists have warned of the risk of floods in the northern part of the country, which warm weather melting snow, and rain predicted over the next couple of days. The warning has gone out to inhabitants of the region around Liberec, and those living around the Krkonoše Mountains. Floods are predicted for this evening in the affected areas, and meteorologists warn that the situation could last until Monday night.

The Elbe River Management warned of increased danger of floods on Saturday after heavy rains in the Krkonose Mountains caused local streams to swell. As a preventative measure, water levels at two local dams have been lowered so the dams could absorb increased amounts of water. The water level in the Elbe is expected to get back to normal by Sunday and no major precipitation should occur in the area.

Insurance companies are assessing the scale of the damage caused by this week's regional floods in north-east Moravia. Preliminary estimates speak of tens of millions of crowns in damages. Over three hundred people were evacuated from their homes in the Bruntal region and hundreds of basements, cellars and gardens have been ruined. No casualties are reported and water-levels have since receded in all parts of the country allowing people to return to their homes and start clean-up work.

A big clean up operation is underway in many parts of the Czech Republic in the wake of regional floods. Water levels are gradually returning to normal and meteorologists say there is no immediate danger of more torrential rain. North-eastern Moravia was the hardest-hit - dozens of villages were flooded and over three hundred people were evacuated from their homes. Fire crews and volunteers have been working around the clock to clear the damage, pumping water from cellars, removing fallen trees and electricity lines. No casualties have been reported and the extent of material damage has yet to be estimated.

Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes in north Moravia due to flooding, while other areas are under flood alert following heavy rains. Around 200 people were forced to leave their homes in Bruntal on Thursday night, as were 100 others in nearby towns. The evacuees are being put up in local schools. Meanwhile, soldiers have been dispatched to help shore up flood defences with sandbags. A state of emergency has been declared in several areas of north Moravia and Silesia.

A three day flood simulation exercise unexpectedly turned into the real thing on Thursday night as rain-swollen rivers broke their banks in many parts of the Czech Republic. Firefighters and police were out in force in Moravia and Silesia where several villages had to be evacuated overnight and large parts of south Bohemia remain on high flood alert.

Areas of north Moravia and Silesia are under extreme threat of floods. The levels of rivers in the area, as well as parts of northern Bohemia, have risen considerably due to extensive rain - and surrounding areas are on highest alert. In some areas, 20-year old water has already broken banks, leading to flooding in parts of some village homes: namely cellars and basements. Some roads have been closed off. Meteorologists have said that a warning of heavy rain and strong winds will remain in effect until Friday. On Wednesday night, fire fighters had to intervene in many regions, mostly east Bohemia and north Moravia, removing fallen trees from roads and high voltage electric lines. Technicians were called in to repair lines in 230 places in east Bohemia alone. Extensive rain on Wednesday also raised water levels in some rivers in southern Bohemia.