Beaches closed due to flooding, roads submerged, and snowfall in mountain regions.
Sochi on a Wild Ride: Storms, Floods, Waterspouts, and Snow!
Get ready for a rollercoaster of weather in Sochi! This stunning city is bracing itself for heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail, windstorms, and even snow in the mountains.
Social media feeds have gone wild with videos of the city drenched in rain and hail, causing traffic chaos and flooded streets. The city's authorities reported a record rainfall overnight on June 15, with winds blowing down eight trees.
In a bizarre turn of events, a witnesses spotted a waterspout off the coast of Sochi on the same day. Forecasters have predicted winds up to 4 on the Beaufort scale for June 16, with wave heights reaching 1.3 to 1.8 meters. Waterspouts are expected to persist along the Magri-Veseloe stretch until June 17.
Stunning footage shared online shows snow falling in the mountain resorts from 2050 to 2375 meters starting on June 15, with temperatures in these chilly spots dropping to a chilling 5°C, according to Yandex Maps data.
Despite the stormy forecast, the city has issued a storm warning until June 17, warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail, and winds up to 18 m/s. Rapid water level rises are predicted on the Sochi and Sirius rivers, reaching critical levels. Small landslides may occur in the mountains as well.
Is this the wildest weather Sochi has ever seen? Meteorologists suggest that the Krasnodar region's unstable weather is connected to a cyclone that's been making the headlines lately. Thankfully, emergency services have reported no major incidents or casualties so far.
In the meantime, visitors and residents are advised to avoid water activities and park their cars away from trees, billboards, or other structures.
So buckle up and stay safe, Sochi! Let's hope we ride out this storm unscathed!
- "Rosa Khutor" resort, 2100 meters © Screenshot from sochi.camera
- "Rosa Khutor" resort, 2320 meters, Rosa Peak, Southern Slope © Screenshot from sochi.camera
- "Rosa Khutor" resort, 2310 meters, Edelweiss cable car © Screenshot from sochi.camera
- "Krasnaya Polyana" resort, elevation 2050 meters © Screenshot from sochi.camera
- "Krasnaya Polyana" resort, elevation 2375 meters © Screenshot from sochi.camera
Scientists are monitoring the unusual weather in Sochi, with snowfall occurring at the higher elevations of environmental-science hotspots like Rosa Khutor and Krasnaya Polyana. Amidst the storm, the science community is also investigating a reported waterspout off the coast.
