A veteran weather forecaster has criticized a move whereby the Environment Agency (Keskkonnaagentuur) will take on the branding of weather synopses. While the State Weather Service (Riigi Ilmateenistus) had been under the agency's remit for several years already, it had up until now still operated under its own name.
Thousands of homes in Estonia are currently without electricity, as storms with gale force wind in speeds of up to 30 meters per second (Force 11 on the Beaufort scale) buffeted the country through the course of Saturday. The island of Saaremaa has been the worst-hit area.
High winds are being experienced in Estonia on Saturday, especially on the islands, with strong northwesterlies across the country, and sleet and snow expected. The state weather service has issued a level-two warning for the west of the country.
Tallinn Education Department sent a letter to school managers on Thursday recommending schools reorganize their studies by allowing students to study from home due to icy conditions forecast for Friday.