In the first days of March, snow and ice melting will begin in the western and central regions of Latvia, which will raise the water level in the rivers and lead to flooding of riverbanks and low-lying areas, warn hydrologists from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.
A widespread flood is expected in spring, as a large amount of snow has accumulated in river basins and thick ice has formed. In many sections of the rivers, the water level is forecasted to exceed the mark at which a yellow warning is declared, and in some places, it may even reach the levels of orange and red warnings, hydrologists predict.
The greatest danger comes from ice jams, and rainfall that accelerates the melting of the snow cover can significantly enhance the flooding of rivers. The gradual onset of spring will allow floodwaters to enter the rivers evenly, which will reduce the likelihood of major floods.
In the last days of February, the air in Latvia has gradually become warmer - at the turn of February and March, a thaw with air temperatures of 0…+6 degrees is expected across the country. Precipitation in the form of rain and wet snow is mainly forecasted for the northern part of the country.
In the first week of March, the thaw will continue, with daytime temperatures ranging from +1…+7 degrees, and in some nights, there may be slight frost. With clear skies in the second half of the week, daytime temperatures may rise to +10 degrees.
The amount of precipitation in March and early April in the Baltic region is forecasted to be around normal or slightly below, however, heavy precipitation is possible on certain days.
According to hydrologists' forecasts, the peak of the spring flood in the rivers of Latvia is expected from the first decade of March to mid-April. In the rivers of Kurzeme, flooding will begin as early as the first decade of March.
