By Sunday morning, most of the Gulf of Riga was covered with floating ice, satellite information shows.
The ice is mostly thin, with pieces of ice moving from east to west under the influence of the wind. On Monday afternoon, an increase in the northern wind is expected, and ice accumulations will begin to form on the southern and western shores of the Gulf of Riga.
Moderate eastern and southeastern winds are expected from the middle of next week, and the ice will move towards the Kurzeme coast, the Irbe Strait, and Saaremaa. Ship movement may be hindered, forecasters predict.
Next week, ice formation will slow down, but new cold waves are possible at the end of February, and the Gulf of Riga may completely freeze.
According to marinetraffic.com, the icebreaker "Varma" has not yet started operations and is located in the port of Riga.
The State Fire and Rescue Service reminds that ice continues to form along the coast of the Gulf of Riga, and this is unsafe. The ice may appear thick, but in reality, it is often thin, drifting, and unstable. If you step onto the ice, you risk falling into the water, which could lead to tragedy.
