Ukraine will be hit by floods and blizzards: dangerous regions named
25 February 02:52
After a period of severe frosts, Ukraine will experience a sharp thaw with rain, wet snow, fog, and black ice. Weather forecasters warn that sharp temperature fluctuations could cause difficult road conditions, rising river levels, and even local flooding, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Separately, there remains a serious avalanche danger in the Carpathians.
Weather on February 25–26: wet snow, rain, and black ice
Forecaster Natalka Didenko predicts that on February 25, temperatures in most regions will remain around 0°C. In the south and Transcarpathia, temperatures are expected to reach 5–6°C.
According to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, the weather will be determined by an area of low pressure centered over the Sea of Azov.
The following is expected:
- wet snow and rain;
- fog at night and in the morning in the northern, central, and southern regions;
- icy roads (except in the south);
- temperatures from -2° to 3°, in southern regions — up to 6°.
High water: where river levels are expected to rise
According to experts, the highest rises are expected in the Desna, Pripyat, and Dnipro basins.
In Kyiv, the following areas may be at risk:
- Trukhaniv Island;
- Hydropark;
- Muromets Island;
- other low-lying areas of the capital.
The peak of the spring flood in Kyiv may occur in April or even May.
Forecast for the spring flood of 2026
As of February 20, according to calculations by the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, maximum water levels are expected to be:
Above normal:
- small rivers in the Kharkiv region (Siverskyi Donets sub-basin);
- tributaries of the Southern Bug.
Within normal limits:
- Zakarpattia region (Borzhava, Latorica);
- Ukrainian section of the Danube;
- Seim and Desna in the upper reaches.
Below normal:
- Carpathian rivers;
- upper reaches of the Pripyat.
Meteorologists warn that in Volyn, Rivne, and Lviv regions, flooding is possible from February 25 to 27 due to an active thaw, particularly in the upper reaches of the Styr River.
The greatest danger is for residents of coastal areas near small rivers, where the channels are often clogged and hydraulic structures are in poor condition.
Rapid ice melting may cause blockages and additional water level rises in some areas of Poltava, Kharkiv, and Odesa regions.
Carpathians: blizzards and avalanche danger
A level 3 avalanche warning has been issued for the highlands of the Ivano-Frankivsk region on February 25, as well as for the eastern part of Zakarpattia on February 24–25.
The snow cover on steep slopes is unstable. Avalanches can occur even under light loads, and in some cases, large snow masses may collapse spontaneously.
Rescuers urge tourists to refrain from hiking in the mountains during snowstorms.
Where will it be most dangerous
An increased risk is recorded in:
- Kyiv and the surrounding region;
- Kharkiv and Poltava regions;
- Volyn, Rivne, and Lviv regions;
- Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattia regions.
Ukrainians are urged to be careful on the roads, not to park their cars near rivers, and to follow official warnings from weather forecasters and rescue services.
