The water level in the rivers of Latvia continues to rise, reported the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LEGMC), according to LETA.
Meteorologists note that the ice drift is occurring over long stretches of rivers, so the situation in the rivers is changing rapidly. In many places, floodplains and lower areas of land are inundated.
In particular, over the past 24 hours, the movement of ice on the Daugava near Jekabpils has caused fluctuations in the water level. In the Pļaviņas Reservoir at the Zelkū Bridge, the water level rose by 26 centimeters, and since March 3, it has increased by 134 centimeters.
Overall, in the rivers of the Daugava basin, the water level has mainly risen by 9–38 centimeters. In sections of the rivers where ice drift occurred, such as on the Aiviekste at the Aiviekste Hydroelectric Power Station (HPP) and in the lower reaches of the Ogre, the water level fluctuated sharply.
On the Gauja, the water level rose by 5–13 centimeters, however, in places where ice jams were forming or breaking up, sharp fluctuations in the water level were observed. For instance, near Sigulda, after the ice jam broke, the water level dropped by 107 centimeters. On the Gauja near Valmiera, since February 26, the water level has risen by 120 centimeters.
In the rivers of the Gauja basin, over the past 24 hours, the water level has risen by 1–17 centimeters.
In the Salaca and the rivers of its basin, the water level rose by up to 16 centimeters in a day.
In the Lielupe and the rivers of its basin, the water level increased by 2–56 centimeters in a day, however, in Svete at Uzini and in Berze at Baloži, it decreased by 21–24 centimeters.
In the Venta, the water level rose by 16–44 centimeters, and only near Kuldīga did the water level decrease.
Meteorologists note that there are fewer and fewer sections of rivers where ice cover remains, which is melting in place.
In the coming days, warm weather will persist, with only slight frosts expected in some areas at night, and by the end of the week, precipitation zones will cross Latvia — light rain is expected. In some rivers, the water level will fluctuate, but overall, in most rivers, the runoff and water level will continue to increase.
Ice drift will continue in the lower reaches of the Venta, in the Lielupe and the rivers of its basin. Ice drift will also continue over longer stretches of the rivers of the Gauja, Daugava, and Salaca basins.
During the ice drift, jams will form, causing a faster rise in the water level upstream.
