Astana, 21 October. Kazhydromet has issued a storm warning for Thursday, 22 October: snow, blizzards and ice are expected in East Kazakhstan and Abai regions, the wind will at times rise to 23–28 m/s in the mountainous areas of Almaty Region and near the Alakol lakes, and night frosts are expected in the south.
The east will be hit hardest. In East Kazakhstan Region forecasters expect rain and snow with ice, heavy snow in the north, east and mountains, blizzards in the west, north and east, and westerly and south-westerly gusts of 15–20 m/s. In Abai Region rain, snow and ice are forecast, with blizzards in the west, north and centre and wind of 15–20 m/s, at times up to 23 m/s.
In the north and centre the main danger is wind. In Astana north-westerly gusts will at times reach 15–18 m/s, and 15–20 m/s in the north and east of Akmola Region. In the east and south of North Kazakhstan Region there will be rain and snow, ice in places and gusts of up to 25 m/s, including in Petropavlovsk. Rain, snow and ice are expected in Pavlodar Region, with fog at night and in the morning.
In the south and south-east, forecasters predict night frosts of 1–3 degrees in Zhambyl, Almaty, Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions and in Zhetysu Region. In the east and mountains of Almaty Region the wind will strengthen to 23–28 m/s, and it will blow just as hard near the Alakol lakes in Zhetysu Region. A dust storm is expected during the day in the east and centre of Kyzylorda Region.
Fire danger persists in some regions: extreme in the west of Karaganda Region, in the west and centre of Ulytau Region, in Zhezkazgan and in the east of Zhetysu Region; high in the south of Kostanay Region, in the south of Zhetysu and in the centre of Mangystau Region.
What it means: On Thursday bad weather covers almost the whole country: snow, blizzards and ice in the east, strong wind in the north and centre, frost and a dust storm in the south, while fire danger persists in central and western areas.
Who benefits: Nobody gains from bad weather. The warning concerns first of all drivers in East Kazakhstan and Abai regions, where ice and blizzards are forecast, residents of areas where the wind will reach 23–28 m/s, and those living near land with extreme fire danger.
Background: The bad weather has lasted more than a day: the day before, storm warnings were in force in 17 regions, and a FlyArystan plane turned back before reaching Pavlodar.
List of sources used: Kursiv, NUR.KZ, Zakon.kz
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
