Weather to sharply deteriorate in Novosibirsk Oblast

Road maintenance crews are warning Novosibirsk residents of severe weather. In the next 24 hours, the region is forecast to have snowfall and wind gusts of up to 25 m/s (67 mph), with gusts up to 30 m/s (67 mph) possible in the southwest.

According to the Territorial Department of Highways, services are ready to deploy nearly 1,400 units of special equipment to clear the roads. All regional highways are currently open to traffic, and the situation on them is under constant control.

«We are monitoring the situation online via the system for controlling road equipment and weather stations. If necessary, we are ready to promptly deploy additional machinery,» the department noted.

Currently, 676 units of equipment are already working on road clearing: 209 tractors, 313 combined road machines, 103 motor graders, and 51 loaders. Employees are patrolling road cleaning operations, removing snowdrifts, hauling away snow, and cleaning sidewalks.

At the same time, the Highway Department is urging drivers to be cautious on the roads over the next 24 hours, maintain distance, and, if possible, refrain from using personal vehicles. Experts recommend avoiding sharp maneuvers, considering that braking distance increases on slippery roads.

To provide prompt assistance to motorists, mobile roadside assistance points are on duty along the highways. They are equipped with heat guns, repair tools, jumper cables, as well as warm clothing, blankets, and felt boots. If necessary, contractors will help a driver get to the nearest warm place and, with their consent, tow the vehicle to a heated garage.

Contact the department via 24-hour phone lines: 730 (for MTS subscribers), 8 913 949-00-30 (for subscribers of other operators), and 8 (383) 335-81-50 (Highway Department).

Recently, the Hydrometeorological Center compiled a forecast of anomalies for February – what Novosibirsk residents can expect.