Storm warning in Azerbaijan: winds up to 25 m/s, hail in Shahdag and Shamakhi

On 7 September Azerbaijan\'s National Hydrometeorology Service recorded a sharp deterioration in the weather across the country. As of 16:30, wind and precipitation continued in a number of districts, with downpours in places.

Maximum north-westerly wind speeds reached 25 m/s in Tartar, Baku and on the Absheron Peninsula, 23 m/s in Zagatala, 20 m/s in Neftchala, Goychay and Salyan, 18 m/s in Sheki and Zardab, 17 m/s in Shirvan, and 15 m/s in Yevlakh, Shahdag and Goygol.

Hail 3 mm in diameter fell on Shahdag between 16:05 and 16:12, and smaller hail of about 0.5 mm hit the villages of Chukhuryurd and Malham in the Shamakhi district between 16:15 and 16:19. Rain and thunderstorms were reported in Ganja, Balakan, Barda, Qriz, Quba, Shamakhi, Shirvan and Zagatala.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations issued a repeat advisory, urging people to stay away from lightweight and temporary structures, billboards, power poles and cables, and not to shelter under tall trees. It also stressed fire safety, since strong wind makes fires harder to extinguish. The emergency number is 112.

The effects are already visible: in Baku the wind snapped 15 trees and broke branches on twenty more, while in Jalilabad and Ganja trees fell onto cars.

What this means for travellers

The key point is that this affects exactly the destinations people head to in September for mountains and cooler air. Shahdag, Quba, Gusar, Shamakhi, Zagatala and Sheki are all in the affected zone today. If you had planned a cable car ride, a trek or a drive along a mountain road within the next day, it is worth shifting your plans: at wind speeds of 15–25 m/s cable cars are routinely halted and visibility on passes drops.

Second, the mountain rivers. The day before, the weather service warned of possible flash floods on them after heavy rain. That means river crossings, dirt tracks down to the water and campsites by rivers in the Quba, Gusar and Zagatala districts are unsafe right now, even if the rain has stopped: a flash flood arrives from higher up and later than the downpour itself.

Third, the city. The ministry\'s advice about billboards, cables and trees applies equally to Baku and Absheron, where gusts match those in the mountains. In this weather a walk along the Seaside Boulevard or excursions to Gobustan and the Absheron beaches are better swapped for indoor museums. Boat trips do not run at 25 m/s.

One practical note: weather like this in early September in Azerbaijan usually passes within a day or two and is not a seasonal trend. If you have a mountain hotel booked, it is worth messaging the property in advance — many of them report road conditions and lift operations themselves.

Photo: David Uriarte / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0