Torrential rains flood Budapest as storm sweeps across Hungary – PHOTOS, VIDEOS
A powerful storm cell struck Budapest and large parts of Hungary on Saturday afternoon, bringing torrential rain, strong winds, and localised flooding. Within minutes, streets in several districts of the capital were submerged. In Káposztásmegyer, Zugló, and Újpalota, water poured through the roads, while in Szentendre’s historic downtown, floodwater accumulated rapidly, making traffic nearly impossible.
Videos and photos shared by weather monitoring communities such as MetNet and Extrém Időjárás show cars attempting to navigate flooded intersections and residents wading through knee-deep water. In some areas, the sheer volume of rainfall resembled flash floods rather than a typical summer shower.
Káposztásmegyer:
Storm alert across the country
HungaroMet, Hungary’s national meteorological service, issued a yellow (first-level) warning for thunderstorms and downpours across the entire country. The service had warned earlier in the day that an “intense precipitation block” would sweep through Hungary, bringing violent wind gusts and the risk of hail.
Also Káposztásmegyer:
In Tolna County’s Závod, 23 millimetres of rain fell within a short period, according to weather reports. Meanwhile, in Szigetvár, the parking lot of a local supermarket was so heavily flooded that locals joked one could use a boat to get around:
The storm was part of a wave-like frontal system that effectively split the country in two. West of the Danube, autumn-like weather set in, with temperatures falling below 20°C in some areas. At the same time, the eastern regions experienced summer heat, with thermometers in the southeast still reaching 34°C.
Szentendre:
Unstable weather continues
Meteorologists expect more showers and thunderstorms in western and central Hungary as the front moves eastward. The skies, which remained clear in the Great Plain during the morning, are forecast to become increasingly cloudy by evening, with rainfall chances rising in the Tiszántúl, Index reports.
Winds are also expected to strengthen, shifting from southerly to northwesterly in the western half of the country. Around thunderstorms, brief but violent wind gusts and even hail are possible.
The maximum temperatures vary dramatically across Hungary: while southeastern towns remain hot, hovering around 33–34°C, rain-soaked western areas struggle to reach 18–19°C.
Health effects of the cold front
Doctors warn that the sudden arrival of the cold front may trigger discomfort for those sensitive to weather changes. Migraines, headaches, and mood swings are among the most common symptoms, with some reporting fatigue and irritability as the pressure system shifts.
Important reminder of extreme weather
Saturday’s storm serves as another reminder of Hungary’s increasingly volatile summer weather patterns. In recent years, sudden downpours and flash floods have become more frequent, often overwhelming drainage systems and causing disruption in both urban and rural areas.
Authorities continue to urge residents to remain alert to weather warnings, particularly during the late summer storm season, when heat and cold fronts often collide over the Carpathian Basin.
Read more weather-related news on Daily News Hungary.
Read also:
- Watch out when driving! Scorching heat and Saharan dust set to hit Hungary
- Important: Thunderstorms halt flights at Budapest Airport
There was no torrential rain, it merely a normal rain. The drains in most Hungarian cities will not work because they are filled with cigarette butts and trash. Here in Budapest there are drains in Josephvaros that are packed full of cigarette butts. It is disgusting the smell and the filth to include Hungarians slowly killing themselves!
Climate Change™, amirite!