A heavy downpour hit Astana, flooding roads and paralyzing traffic, with cars barely able to move and buses navigating submerged streets. Residents shared videos on social media, according to the website infohub.kz.
Due to the intense rain, drivers in the capital had to travel on water-covered roads. Some pedestrians clung to building fences to bypass flooded sidewalks. However, some residents welcomed the rain after a heatwave. "Finally! Normal weather in Astana," users wrote.
Hail was also reported during the storm. The difficulties affected not only car drivers but also public transport, with buses traveling on completely flooded roads. The Telegram channel Astanovka98 published footage captured by drivers, including images of lightning.
Forecasters had predicted rain and a drop in temperatures. On July 23, Astana expected light rain, a daytime high of +25°C, nighttime low of +16°C, and wind at 5.3 m/s. According to Kazhydromet, July 24 will see variable clouds, occasional rain and thunderstorms, with temperatures up to +27°C.