Weather in Latvia swings to extremes: after drought, record rains arrived

According to the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, the average precipitation across the country in spring was only about half of the climatic norm. The spring of 2026 became the second driest since observations began in 1924. A similarly record dry period was also noted in a longer series — from September last year to May this year. However, the situation changed dramatically in the summer. In June, some areas still experienced below-normal precipitation, but several towns ranked among the wettest in history. In Vīčaki, Ventspils Municipality, June was the second wettest, while in Kuldīga and Sīļi, it was the third. Particularly heavy rains occurred in July. In the first ten days of the month, ten weather stations recorded the monthly norm of precipitation. Kurzeme received the most rain. Although July is still ongoing, by July 21, the period from early June became the rainiest on record in Vīčaki, Ventspils Municipality. In Liepāja and Ventspils, this two-month period ranks second in history, while in Kuldīga and Bauska, it ranks third. The most intense rains were recorded on July 8 and 20 in Ventspils. In one day, 80 millimeters of precipitation fell there, with 60 millimeters occurring in just four hours on the evening of July 20. In Stende, 40 millimeters fell in three hours, and 72 millimeters over eight hours. Such volumes of precipitation quickly affect river water levels. From July 20 to 22, water levels in several rivers in Kurzeme rose by one to two meters, although the situation is gradually stabilizing and water levels are beginning to decrease. This summer, Latvia has already recorded 25 days when at least one weather station experienced heavy precipitation — at least ten millimeters in a day. This indicates that the current season is characterized not only by the total amount of rain but also by its high intensity. According to meteorologists' forecasts, rainy weather will continue in the coming days. In most cases, precipitation will be localized; however, prolonged rains and thunderstorms are again possible in some areas.