Home / Weather News /

Pile-ups on the road: Severe dust storms in Central Europe

09:52
13 March 2023

Pile-ups on the road
Severe dust storms in Central Europe

Dust storm in Hungary (Motorway M7 near to Budapest), Saturday 11th March.Dust storm in Hungary (Motorway M7 near to Budapest), Saturday 11th March 2023. - © Kortyis David

Heavy dust storms have caused traffic obstructions and consequent fatalities across both Hungary and Slovakia.

Clouds of dust and sand severely reduced the visibility on several roads in Hungary and Slovakia on Saturday 11th March. On the motorways, drivers were sometimes only able to see a few metres away.

In Hungary, a pile-up involving more than 40 vehicles occurred on the M1 motorway near its capital Budapest. There was one fatality with 39 others injured, two of them critically.

A similar situation also developed in Slovakia, with accidents also due to severe visibility issues. Among other locations, the D2 motorway near the capital Bratislava was forced closed in both directions.

The dust storms were caused by strong winds brought to central and south-eastern Europe by Storm "Diethelm". On Saturday, gusts of over 60 mph were widely recorded.

The wind then picked up vast amounts of dust and sand from the surrounding fields and carried it onto the roads. As a result, visibility in the affected areas was often close to zero.

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Wind radar and warning map for strong gusting winds across south-east Ireland, Wales, and the English south coast.
Tuesday 15 July 2025

For UK and Ireland

Pressure system prompts wind warnings
Split image showing storm clouds over a coastal town on the left, and a circumzenithal arc on the right.
Sunday 13 July 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Summer warmth and sights
Wednesday 9 July 2025

30°C in London

Summer comeback in the UK
All weather news
This might also interest you
Weather map on the left showing heavy rain over the UK and Ireland. Wind map on the right shows strong gusting winds over Ireland, Wales, and England, strongest in the south.
Tuesday 15 July 2025

Breakfast brief

Wet, gusty, with thundery potential
Two weather radars side-by-side, one showing sunny conditions over the UK and the other a temperature map showing widespread warmth.
Thursday 10 July 2025

Breakfast brief

Turning sunnier and warmer
A temperature and weather radar of the UK and Ireland showing hot temperatures with clear, sunny skies.
Friday 11 July 2025

Breakfast brief

A hot and sunny outlook
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.ie

facebooktwitteryouTubeContact uslinkList
Privacy Policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement