Slovak meteorology IT systems crash, weather data not updated

During days of record-breaking temperatures, the IT infrastructure of the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) collapsed. This prevented the updating of weather data and caused serious problems for data users. The system failure occurred during a heatwave, limiting access to current information for the public and authorities.

SHMÚ is the main institution responsible for weather forecasts and warnings in Slovakia. The IT crash halted the collection, processing, and distribution of meteorological data. This negatively affected weather-dependent activities in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and transportation. It also disrupted emergency management and preparedness for natural disasters like floods.

Authorities began investigating the source of the problem and working to restore the system. However, the duration of the outage and potential data loss remain unclear. SHMÚ advised users to seek alternative data sources. Such IT failures highlight how dependent modern meteorology is on digital infrastructure.

Slovakia had been experiencing extreme heat in recent days, breaking temperature records. Access to up-to-date weather data was therefore critical. The IT crash made it difficult for the public to take precautions against the heatwave. Critical infrastructure such as power grids and health services, which rely on weather data, also faced increased risk.

This incident underscores the need to enhance the resilience of public institutions' IT systems. SHMÚ's outage serves as a warning for similar organizations. To prevent future failures, backup systems and more robust infrastructure should be established. Otherwise, the risk of being unprepared for extreme weather events, which are increasing due to climate change, grows.