Slovakia is expecting more intense precipitation at night: Up to 20 cm of snow will fall in these places
Intense precipitation, including snowfall in central and eastern Slovakia, is also possible during the next night on Wednesday (January 18). The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) informs about it on the social network.
Meteorologists explain that behind the precipitation activity is a band of warm front and low pressure in the Adriatic region, which is moving over the territory of Slovakia. “The high cloudiness of the warm front from the southwest is already increasing in these moments, while it will continue to thicken, until precipitation will gradually fall out of it,” the meteorologists said.
Especially in the first half of the night, they expect heavy rainfall in the Banskobystrica region and in the east, where ten to 25 millimeters (mm) of rain will fall in places, occasionally even more in the far east, while the hourly intensity can occasionally exceed five per hour, which is characterized by heavy rain or heavy snowfall and large flakes. At the same time, the snow should also reach the lower elevations.
Ten to 20 centimeters (cm) of snow will fall in places in the Banskobystrica region, on Gemer, Spiš, partly also Šariš and Liptov.especially in positions above 400 meters. More than 20 cm of snow can occasionally fall between the Spiš, Horehronie and Gemer regions,” informs SHMÚ. “It will snow at a temperature of around zero degrees Celsius, the snow will be heavy and wet, in addition, a moderate to fresh easterly wind will initially blow,” they add, warning of an increase in the risk of damage and traffic restrictions due to fallen trees and power lines. They are recommended during the night crossing of mountain passes. “In the second half of the night, the precipitation will weaken, but after warming up, the snow will be even heavier, which can cause further damage,” meteorologists warn.
After the warming and melting of the snow, they expect cooling again during Wednesday and possible heavier precipitation in the far east of Slovakia. “In this part of our territory, 30 to 5 mm of rain in places in 24 hours, which can already fall to 0 activity and flood level,” pointed out the experts from HMÚ. They added that approximately 20 mm of precipitation will also occasionally fall in the south of central Slovakia in the Košice region, where, in combination with hot snow, water flows may also rise.
Before the rains, SHMÚ cuts out the issued warnings, while an increased warning of the second level applies to Horehroní, Spiš and Gemeri. In the central part of SR, it is necessary to expect the formation of snow tongues and drifts during the night and morning.