Snowfall blankets East Kazakhstan region.
Snow Blankets East Kazakhstan's Mountains
It's been a chilly start to the week in East Kazakhstan, according to reports from Almaty.tv and Tengrinews.kz. Snow has appeared overnight in several districts, making for a breathtaking scene in the Katon-Karagay, Kurcumin, and even around the city of Ridder.
Witnesses are sharing videos and pictures on social media, showcasing the stunning transformation in the Markakol Nature Reserve, where the snow layer reached a remarkable 12 centimeters by morning. Pictures also reveal Mount Prohodnaya, standing proud at 1860 meters above sea level near Ridder, now blanketed in white.
RGP "Kazhydromet" acknowledged the snowfall, acknowledging it's a common occurrence for mountainous regions of East Kazakhstan, albeit usually a little later in the season.
"Our weather stations in the Markakol Nature Reserve noticed rain turning into snow. But elsewhere, not so much snow. However, snow did fall in the mountains of Katon-Karagay and Kurcumin districts, near Ridder. I can't give the exact snowfall amounts as we don't have weather stations in the mountains," explained Dinaara Zhilibaeva, a duty meteorologist at RGP "Kazhydromet".
Looking ahead, temperatures in East Kazakhstan aren't set to rise drastically—instead, a drop in temperature and increased wind are foreseen for the region.
The current weather advisories highlight active wind patterns and temperature fluctuations across the Eastern regions of Kazakhstan. While heavy rains seem isolated to the Western regions, it's best to consult Kazhydromet's real-time alerts (kazhydromet.kz) for hyperlocal updates.
Data from the latest available forecasts and regional updates:- Mountainous areas in East Kazakhstan are currently registering daytime temperatures around +28°C (terrain-specific readings)[3].- Wind speeds in higher elevations may reach 15-20 m/s on mountain passes, indicating potential gusty conditions[3].- While exact district-level forecasts for Katon-Karagay, Kurcumin, and Ridder aren't explicitly detailed in these reports, the broader pattern suggests daytime temperatures in the high 20s°C range for mountainous zones, with nighttime lows likely between +13-18°C* in surrounding areas[3].
Last updated forecasts cited: May 5, 2025.
- In Mountainous regions of East Kazakhstan, snowfall is a common occurrence, as acknowledged by RGP "Kazhydromet".
- The snowfall in Katon-Karagay and Kurcumin districts, near Ridder, has resulted in a snow layer reaching up to 12 centimeters, as observed by weather stations in the Markakol Nature Reserve.
- While the exact snowfall amounts might not be available due to a lack of weather stations in the mountains, the weather stations in the Markakol Nature Reserve have noticed rain turning into snow in these areas.
- Data from the latest forecasts indicates that daytime temperatures in East Kazakhstan's mountainous zones will be in the high 20s°C range, with nighttime lows likely between +13-18°C in surrounding areas.
