Heavy snowfall batters Ryazan: forecaster gives duration estimate

Thursday, January 29, began for Ryazan residents with heavy snowfall, which is already covering cars and roads, leading to morning 10-point traffic jams in the city. About how long such snow will last and how high the snowdrifts will be, YA62.RU was told by the head of the agrometeorological regime and climate department of the regional Central Hydrometeorological Service, Roman Stepanov.

Even at the beginning of the week, the forecaster predicted snowfall:

“On Thursday, snow could become heavy, with even a weak thaw possible in some places; on Friday, precipitation will continue. We expect an increase in snow cover height by 10 or more centimeters. In the north of Ryazan Oblast, it could be more than 15 centimeters on top. Such snow cover height is above normal, and this will add to the inconveniences.

“From Friday, the temperature will start to fall again. By the weekend, it could drop to -15°C (5°F) and below. But frosts are generally considered a normal phenomenon for the coldest month — January. We have simply become unaccustomed to the frosts,” stated Roman Stepanov.

Moreover, the snow height even before the snowfall exceeded the norm by two or one and a half times depending on the district of Ryazan Oblast.