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Strong Winds Destroy Forests in LVM East Vidzeme Region during the Summer Solstice Holidays

On the morning of 24 June, strong wind gusts in East Vidzeme region caused significant damage to the forest. The greatest damage was done in Gulbene Municipality, where forest stands with a total area of about 100 hectares were continuously damaged. Upon inspecting the affected territories, employees of JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” (LVM) found continuous damage and bending in individual State forest massifs.

The preliminary volume of wood fallen down and damaged in LVM East Vidzeme Region is estimated to be about 20 thousand cubic metres. The most devastating scene opens up around Lizums and Lejasciems.

“The biggest storm damage in East Vidzeme was recorded in July 2016, when the total volume of fallen and broken trees reached 120 thousand cubic metres. At that time, the damage was done mainly in dry pine forests, and by operatively developing and removing wood and felling residues, it was possible to prevent the occurrence of fires in these pine forests. This year, too, such a risk exists; therefore, LVM will organize the removal of damaged wood from the forest as soon as possible,” says Jāzeps Zdanovskis, LVM Planning Executive Director.

At the observation stations, both the strongest wind gusts and the highest amount of precipitation were registered in Gulbene - 26 metres per second and 37 millimetres, respectively.

On 24 June, the highest-level warning of an extremely strong thunderstorm was in force in the central and eastern part of Latvia. On Midsummer night, the strongest wind gusts, the largest amount of precipitation and lightning, as well as the most extensive damage to power lines were observed in the eastern part of the country, especially in the east of Vidzeme.