PRAGUE, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Czech Republic is bracing for gale-force winds that could cause severe damage from Sunday evening until Monday evening, warned the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Transport on Sunday.
The ministry has set up a coordinating group and has railway workers, firefighters, road workers, air traffic controllers, transmission system operators and power plant operators on alert.
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMU) issued extreme danger warnings for Bohemia and parts of Moravia and Silesia. The strongest winds will likely be on Monday.
Meteorologists forecast the winds, part of Storm Ciara (Sabine) due to hit much of Central Europe, will reach destructive speeds in most of the affected areas and could reach hurricane force in mountainous regions.
Several flights to and from Vaclav Havel Airport Prague have been canceled.
Before pounding on the European continent, Storm Ciara slammed Britain on Sunday as gale winds and heavy rain triggered tornado warnings and blackouts, shut highway and grounded flights.
