2023 Slovenia floods

2023 Slovenia floods
River Sava in Ljubljana on 4 August 2023
Date3 August 2023 – 23 August 2023
LocationSlovene Littoral, Upper Carniola, Carinthia and Styria
Deaths7
Property damageAt least 7€ billion

In August 2023, major floods occurred in large part of Slovenia and neighbouring areas of Austria and Croatia due to heavy rain. Amongst others, the level of rivers Sava, Mur and Drava was exceptionally high. Several settlements and transport links in Slovene Littoral, Upper Carniola and Slovenian Carinthia were flooded. Due to the amount of rain, the streams in Idrija, Cerkno and Škofja Loka Hills overflowed. Due to the event, the National Flood Protection and Rescue Plan was activated. Slovenia had already experienced heavier rains in the second half of July. This extra water in the system meant that floods and major river overflows were caused by downpours that crossed Slovenia on the night of 3–4 August. The first rivers flooded in Upper Carniola and Posočje. These floods began on 3 August at around 20.00h. The Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO) also warned that there was a possibility of sea flooding.[1] The floods were similar to those that occurred in 1990, 1998 and 2004.[2]

According to ARSO, the worst flooding was in the foothills of the Julian Alps, from Idrija through the Ljubljana basin to Slovenian Carinthia, where 150–200 mm (6–8 in) fell, on Loibl fell 275 mm (10.8 in) in 48 hours.[3][4] A red hydrological warning was also applied to rivers.[5] ARSO issued a red warning for north-eastern, north-western and central Slovenia due to prolonged downpours, which was put into effect at midnight on 4 August.[3]

  1. ^ "Začelo se je: reke naraščajo, padavine bodo zajele vso državo". siol.net (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  2. ^ S, A. ""Toliko padavin ni v enem dnevu padlo nikoli. Posledice so hude." Ni še konec". rtvslo.si (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Nočna mora na Gorenjskem in Koroškem. Razmere so katastrofalne. #video". siol.net (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. ^ red, ORF at/Agenturen (6 August 2023). "Hochwasser: Ein Todesopfer in Kärnten". news.ORF.at (in German). Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Vode - opozorila". www.arso.gov.si. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.