Winter attacks North Caucasus

The EMERCOM regional office of the new North Caucasus Federal District has warned about freak weather, which may bring accidents and emergencies, due to both the elements and cold weather.

In particular, the number of accidents may increase due to the deterioration of traffic conditions: meteorologists forecast ice-covered surfaces on roads and snow and fog. Temperatures are expected to drop to -14.

Heavy snow is expected in Kabardino-Balkaria, fog and ice-covered ground at night and in the morning, as well as a high avalanche danger in the mountains. The temperature could drop to -19. Therefore emergencies such as damage to roads, cable cars, buildings, power lines in the mountains, injuries to ski tourists and athletes are possible in avalanche areas.

A storm warning until Tuesday was announced in the mountains of North Ossetia. The Transcaucasian Highway is closed due to heavy snowfall. EMERCOM doesn’t recommended motorists to use this route as safe movement of vehicles cannot be achieved due to unpredictable weather. Georgian border guards recommend restricting the movement from Vladikavkaz to Lars in the direction of the Russian-Georgian border.

+1°C is expected in the seaside part of Dagestan. Ice-covered ground and snow are possible in low-lying areas where the temperature is -2°C to 7°C. Meanwhile, banks of snow are expected in bottom mountain areas. Increased avalanche danger was announced in the Tsuntin, Tsumadin and Rutulsky Districts. 

EMERCOM predicts temperatures of -9°C at night and -7°C in the daytime in Karachay-Cherkessia, as well as -15°C in the mountains. Ice-covered ground and avalanches are expected on roads in the Zelenchuk district and possibly urban districts of Karachay-Cherkessia.

Residents of Ingushetia were warned about anthropogenic emergencies due to bad weather, including a growing number of road accidents, accidents on the railways and air transport. Accidents are possible to power systems, man-made fires in residential buildings and social amenities, facilities, industry and chemically dangerous objects; accidents on gas pipelines and gas explosions. According to the site of the Ingush Emergencies Ministry, the matter is not just the weather, but also the high degree of wear of infrastructure, weak security structures and an increase of the power supply load due to the cold weather.

Better weather is expected in Chechnya – moderate snow, and strong snowfall in some places, with fog and ice-covered ground, but the air temperature is not expected to be colder than -9°C.