Severe cold predicted in Armenia from 18 December
The RA Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technologies reports that as of 09:30, December 15, snowfalls are observed in all the highways of Armenia. Vardenyats Pass and Berd-Chambarak Highway are shut down due to the heavy snowfall, snowstorm and low visibility.
The highways of Talin, Artik, Ani, Akhuryan Ashotsk, as well as Saravan-Zanger highway, Keti and Jajur mountain passes are hardly passable.
Due to the heavy snowfall and snowstorm the highways of Baghramyan, Abovyan and Sevan, as well as Meghri mountain pass are difficult to pass. Noyemberyan Highway is covered with clear ice.
The ministry calls on the drivers to head to the above mentioned highways only in cases of strict necessity using only winter tires and tire chains.
Deputy Head of the Meteorological Center of Hydromet service Gagik Surenyan has noted that the maximum depth of snow in Kare Lake part of Mount Aragats is 100sm. The snow depth in Amberd is 80cm, 56cm_ in Hrazdan, 51cm_ in Kajaran, 50cm_ in Aparan, 43cm_ in Amasya. In Yerevan the snowfall was measured at 10-17cm.
As the Emergency Department of Georgia’s Interior Ministry reports Stepantsminda-Lars Highway is closed for all types of vehicles.
“Expect severe cold from 18 December,” G. Surenyan has noted in his facebook post.