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The Biggest Storm Damage – in Zemgale

Although the storm that erupted in Latvia at the beginning of the week was generally strong, with wind gusts reaching 32 metres per second, no major damage has been found in Latvia's State forests. According to the operative information at the disposal of JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM), the total volume of wood felled and broken during the storm reaches approximately 12 thousand cubic metres.

The biggest damage caused by Monday's storm was recorded in LVM Zemgale region, where the total volume of wood felled and broken in the strong wind reaches 5 thousand cubic meters; in turn, the least damage – about a thousand cubic metres of felled wood – was caused in LVM North Kurzeme region. Elsewhere in the State forests of Latvia, the damage has been moderate – in LVM's South Kurzeme, Vidusdaugava and West Vidzeme regions, damage of approximately 2 thousand cubic metres has been found in each of the areas.

“This storm has been relatively calm in the forests of Latvia. In Zemgale, where the greatest damage has been recorded, forest has also been destroyed in continuous areas. In other regions, conifers are mostly broken on the sides of felling sites and roads. Currently, LVM employees are working to eliminate the consequences of the damage, sanitary felling sites are being prepared promptly and we are continuing the inspection,” says Jāzeps Zdanovskis, Executive Director of Planning at LVM.

According to the data published by meteorological observation stations, the storm reached its peak on Monday at noon, when the gusts of north and northwest winds increased to 32 metres per second in Jūrmala, while in Daugavgrīva and Kundziņsala in Riga – up to 30 metres per second.

Previously, such a strong storm in Latvia raged in March 2020. Then the total amount of broken wood in the forests of Latvia reached about 30 thousand cubic metres.