Second Wave of Lena River Flooding at Yakutsk is Expected on Friday
H2: Flooding Woes Continue on Major Rivers in Yakutia
It's been a chaotic spring in Yakutia, with the second wave of floods causing major headaches. The Lena and Aldan rivers are getting hit the hardest, with record-breaking water levels steadily rising. The Vilyuy River isn't faring much better, as it battles a flood wave from the Markha River.
Up in Ust-Maysky District on the Aldan River, the scenario's pretty grim. Waters are already 4 to 6 meters above ice runoff levels, with levels increasing by 14 to 36 cm daily. But thankfully, the peak water rise seems to have passed in some settlements, such as Belkachi and Ust-Mil. In Belkachi, water levels have plummeted by 66 cm in just a day, while Ust-Mil saw a drop sometime around 4 am.
On the brighter side, water levels are on the decline in districts like Neryungri and Aldan, although a flood peak is predicted between Petropavlovsk and Eldikan for 5-6 June, followed by a gradual lowering of water levels.
The central group of districts and the Kobyaysky Ulus on the Lena River are seeing water levels rise, but with no immediate danger forecast. In Yakutsk, for instance, water levels hit 474 cm by 4 June, with the second flood wave peak expected on 6 June, thereafter leading to a drop in water levels.
Vyacheslav Shekhirov, Deputy Head of the Yakutsk Hydrometeorological and Environmental Monitoring Service, offers some insight. On the Yana, Indigirka, and Kolyma rivers, water levels are generally decreasing, albeit at varying speeds. Rainfall triggered a small flood with a modest wave height on the Adycha River, a tributary of the Yana. The Kolyma River's ice cover split near Sasykylakh, a village, in accordance with average long-term dates.
With rivers causing travel disruptions and putting road networks under pressure, it's a precarious time in Yakutia. Although more details about water peaks, drops, and specific predictions for major rivers are scarce, authorities and builders are bracing for the summer construction season, especially for the Lena Bridge, and flood control measures are being put in place. Keep an eye on local government emergency services or hydrological bulletins for the most accurate and up-to-date flood levels and forecasts.
Despite the ongoing flooding issues on major rivers like the Lena and Aldan, scientific assessments reveal a decrease in water levels in districts such as Neryungri and Aldan. However, the environmental science community predicts a flood peak between Petropavlovsk and Eldikan for the 5-6 of June, potentially raising concerns again. In Yakutsk, while the water levels have risen, they are expected to drop after the second flood wave peak on the 6th of June. The weather conditions continue to impact the rivers, causing travel disruptions and putting pressure on road networks in Yakutia.
