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Weather forecasters have warned that flooding may occur in several regions of the country as heavy rain continues to swell smaller rivers. A third degree flood alert was called on Friday afternoon for the river Velička in South Moravia. Lower-level flood alerts have also been called for the Karlovy Vary, Plzeň and Ústí nad Labem regions and some regions of Moravia. Up to 50 mm of precipitations have been registered overnight in some parts of the Czech Republic. More rain is expected over the next 48 hours.

Heavy storms are expected in several parts of the Czech Republic on Sunday evening, with the Pardubice, Hradec Králové and Vysočina regions likely to see the most intense rainfall and strongest winds, the Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute warned on Sunday. The agency has issued flood alerts for some places already hit by a wave of storms crossing the country from east to west. Trains were temporarily halted in some places and summer camps were evacuated.

Storms and heavy rain complicated traffic and flooded cellars in many parts of the country, particularly in south-western Bohemia. Rail traffic between Prague and Mariánské Lázně was disrupted for several hours on Monday night and fire crews worked around the clock clearing away uprooted trees and pumping water from cellars. In some places the rain amounted to 67 liters per square meter, causing flash floods which temporarily closed down the lobby of Prague’s Mustek metro station. The ABC theatre in Prague was flooded for the third time this year.

The Czech weather office warned Tuesday of the possibility of severe storms across the country with the likelihood of hail and rainfall in some places of up to 50 millimetres. Wind speeds could increase to as high as 75 kilometres an hour and flash floods could occur, the office added. Rail links in the Liberec region were already cut on Tuesday. Storms on Monday night felled trees and disrupted transport with even the Prague tram system cut at one point because of flooding.

Pope Francis has sent the Litoměřice diocese a financial gift to help the victims of last year’s devastating floods, the internet news site Novinky.cz reported on Sunday. The money from the papal fund is to be divided among several families in three villages which were worst affected by the natural disaster. A number of people lost their homes and all their possessions prompting an appeal for help to the Pope by Litoměřice Bishop Jan Baxant. The financial assistance will be handed over at a special ceremony next week.

Persistent rain in the Czech Republic is continuing to cause some rivers to swell. Among them is the Berounka, which flows into the Vltava. Fears that the latter will also rise have led to quays in Prague being closed as a preventative measure. People in the Plzeň region, around Mladá Bolesav and in Jeseník have seen some water damage but latest reports say the situation in those areas is becoming calmer. Forecasters have scaled back flood warnings, with the lowest level of flood alert now in place in only four regions.

River levels eased overnight across most of the Czech Republic with the highest, level three, flood warnings no longer in effect on the Klabava river near Plzeň. Rainfall is forecast again on Thursday though the Czech weather office believes this will not cause river levels in West Bohemia to significantly rise. Flash floods occurred overnight on streams and rivers in the Jeseník area in the north-east of the country with one rail link already cut there after being undermined by water and a large pond threatening to breaks its banks.

Heavy rain and flooding results in almost 400 call-outs for firemen across the country on Tuesday. The most calls for help came from the Prague, the Moravia-Silesia, Central Bohemia and the Ústí regions with frequent demands to pump out flooded cellars. Sixteen people were evacuated at the eastern town of Rychnov nad Kněžnou as the river level rose. River levels were at level three danger level around the Western town of Rokycany on Wednesday.

The Czech Republic was hit by severe storms on Tuesday, with heavy rain and hail flooding cellars and roads. In Prague fire officers were called out to deal with flooding at around two dozen spots, including the basement of the National Library, the vestibule of Můstek metro station and a theatre. More heavy storms are forecast for Wednesday.

Czech charity organizations have started collecting money in aid of flood victims in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina where the floods ravaged homes and claimed over 30 lives. The NGO People in Need has already earmarked one million crowns in emergency aid to the region. The Czech Republic has likewise sent a group of nine firefighters to Serbia to help with the rescue effort.