Northeastern Kazakhstan grapples with floods on April 26th

Flooding tensions continue to rise in North Kazakhstan, with water levels still climbing in certain areas despite the receding flood wave. According to Liter.kz, data from Kazhydromet shows that the situation at the Sergeevskoe Reservoir has stabilized, currently sitting at 966 cm with no changes in the last few hours. However, the overflow through the dam remains at 166 cm, and the reservoir's capacity is at 130%, a reminder that the flood peak occurred on 20 April, reaching 262 cm above the dam.

The towns of Pokrovka, Novonikolskoe, and Petropavlovsk are facing the brunt of the flood. Pokrovka's water level currently stands at 1214 cm, down by 2 cm over the past two hours but still 24 cm higher than the previous morning. The dangerous level of 950 cm has already been surpassed. The peak was reached on 22 April, with 1276 cm. In Novonikolskoe, the current water level is 1612 cm, no changes since the previous day, but 15 cm lower than the peak of 24 April at 1633 cm.

Petropavlovsk's water level has increased by 1 cm over the past two hours, reaching 1158 cm, 25 cm higher than 25 April morning. The dangerous level of 960 cm is looming, and a flood peak is expected in the coming days, between 28 to 30 April. The Petropavlovskoe Reservoir is holding steady at 1048 cm.

Dolmatovo, a border post, has seen a 31 cm increase over the past 24 hours, with the current water level at 1365 cm. The dangerous level of 1450 cm is approaching. Due to the water receding in Pokrovka and Novonikolskoe, observations are now conducted only during the day.

Despite the receding flood in some areas, the situation remains critical, especially in Petropavlovsk. All emergency services are on high alert, urging citizens to closely monitor official announcements and be prepared for evacuation if the water level suddenly rises. Residents of coastal areas should remain vigilant, as the third flood wave is currently underway.

Additional Insights: The third flood wave in Petropavlovsk is expected to peak between 28 to 30 April, driven by rising levels in the Zhabay and Koluton rivers from neighboring Akmola Region. The current water levels in Petropavlovsk have already surpassed the critical 960 cm, leading to road closures and traffic restrictions on the bypass highway. The flood situation in North Kazakhstan Region is comparable to the historic 2024 floods that reached a record 425 cm overflow at the Sergeyevka Reservoir. Northern Kazakhstan and southern Russia are experiencing similar flood challenges due to dam breaches and rapid snowmelt, primarily linked to the Ural River. Authorities are rerouting traffic to Petropavlovsk for passenger vehicles and have designated alternative truck routes. Large-scale preventive measures, including reservoir management, are ongoing to manage the flood situation. (Source: [1], [2]) [1] - "Інформация о положении на участках ж.д. дорог республики" (in Russian) [2] - "Flood in North Kazakhstan: A Look Inside the Rescue Efforts, Tent City and More" (in English) (online news article)

The third flood wave in Petropavlovsk, particularly driven by rising levels in the Zhabay and Koluton rivers, is projected to peak between 28 to 30 April.
The current water levels in Petropavlovsk have surpassed the critical 960 cm, a level reminiscent of the historic 2024 floods that reached a record 425 cm overflow at the Sergeyevka Reservoir.
In environmental-science terms, the current flood situation in North Kazakhstan can be compared to the historic 2024 floods, a significant event impacting both North Kazakhstan and southern Russia due to dam breaches and rapid snowmelt, primarily linked to the Ural River.
Kazhydromet, the national weather service of Kazakhstan, closely monitors the flood situation, providing data that reminds us of the critical nature of the flood peak occurring on 20 April, reaching 262 cm above the dam at the Sergeevskoe Reservoir.