There will be no disastrous spring flooding in Ukraine, although high river levels and some standing water are expected, according to Ukraine's Meteorological Office.
"I think there are no reasons to say that disastrous flooding is expected. It will be within normal limits, Chief of Ukraine’s Meteorological Office Mykola Kulbida said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.
According to him, everything will depend on weather conditions at the time the thaw. But, as Kulbida noted, even rain and high air temperatures during the thaw will not lead to a disaster, even though the water level in all river basins will be significantly higher.
He said that on March 22-23 meteorologists will be able give more precise forecast. Kulbida assured that weather forecasters would definitely give warnings of spring flooding in threatened areas.
Head of the department of hydrologic forecasts of Ukraine’s Meteorological Office Victoria Boiko, in turn, said that the snow will melt slowly and will not cause a sharp increase in river levels.
"Even if there is no more snow… there will be flooding such as we haven’t had for five years… However, even if the water level is expected to be 20-30 centimeters higher than normal, this level doesn’t threaten buildings," she said.
