Severe thunderstorms affect Euro 2008 by Philip Avery
Violent thunderstorms swept across large parts of Austria yesterday evening producing spectacular lightning displays and affecting the television coverage of the Euro 2008 semi final match.
Although the semi final match was played in the Swiss city of Basel, broadcast transmission was cut repeatedly during the second half as violent storms broke out in Vienna, where the International Broadcast Centre for the tournament is located. Internet coverage of the game was also interrupted.
During the height of the storm, torrential rain lashed down causing temporary flash flooding and squally winds gusted to over 60mph (100km/h), prompting officials to shut down Vienna’s main Euro 2008 fan zone and evacuate spectators.
Much of central Europe has seen some very warm weather over the past week with temperatures hitting the low to mid 30s Celsius. Last night’s thundery activity was associated with a trough - a low pressure disturbance in the upper atmosphere. As the pressure falls near and along the trough, convection occurs. When the lower air is also warm and humid, air rises even more rapidly, causing intense showers and thunderstorms to develop.
The warm weather is set to continue across central Europe with further showers and thunderstorms likely over the next few days.
