Water levels on the Dniester are dropping rapidly; a Level III danger alert has been issued
Water levels in the rivers of the Dniester basin continue to drop and may soon reach their lowest levels in the entire history of long-term observations. Due to the critical situation, a Level III danger alert—brown—has been declared in the region.
A video filmed in the village of Sokil in the Khmelnytskyi region shows just how far the water has receded from the shore. The videographer points to the stairs and the pier and notes that the water used to reach them.
“The Dniester River… just look how low the water level is. To give you an idea, you can see the stairs and the pier over there. That’s how far the water used to reach. Now there’s almost no water. Well, there is some, but honestly, I think this is a disaster,” the voiceover in the video says.
At the same time, experts confirm that the problem is not merely visual. According to the forecast from the Hydrometeorological Center, water levels will continue to drop.
“From September 1 to 15, the rivers in the Dniester basin will continue to experience a gradual drop in water levels to the lowest values recorded in the entire long-term observation period, and in some places even below those levels,” the center’s statement reads.
As water levels drop, river flow will also decrease. Experts predict that it will remain below the low-water threshold.
The condition of the riverbeds poses a separate problem. The Hydrometeorological Center notes that significant overgrowth with aquatic vegetation is observed on most rivers.
“On most rivers, there is significant overgrowth of riverbeds with aquatic vegetation; in some sections of small rivers, there is no flow, which will further complicate the operation of the region’s water management system,” noted the Khmelnytskyi Regional Hydrometeorological Center.
Consequently, water levels in the rivers of the Dniester basin will continue to drop, falling below levels typical even for the low-water season.
Due to the critical drop in water levels, a Level III danger alert—brown—has been declared in the region.
In hydrology, this level indicates a critical and catastrophic drop in water levels in rivers and reservoirs to the lowest values recorded in the entire history of observations.
Experts warn that a further drop in water levels could complicate the operation of the region’s water management system.
@zachidnewsinfo Does anyone know what this is? #Dniester ♬ original audio recording - zachidNewsinfo
This was reported by the Khmelnytskyi Regional Center for Hydrometeorology.
In Zakarpattia this summer, river flow in the lowland part of the region has dropped to 25% of normal levels. This applies, in particular, to the Latorica, Uzh, and Tisa rivers, according to Natalia Platonova, head of the meteorological research department at the Transcarpathian Center for Hydrometeorology.
As a reminder, due to the arrival of an abnormal heat wave, Ukraine may face a significant increase in electricity consumption as early as next week. According to forecasts, the load on the power grid could increase by approximately 1 gigawatt, creating a risk that hourly power outage schedules will return.
The June heatwave in Europe led to significant losses in agriculture. The cost of the destroyed grain harvest is estimated at more than 2 billion euros, with farmers in France and Hungary suffering the most.
In Zakarpattia, officials have begun developing a plan to address the water shortage, which is becoming increasingly acute in the region. One of the proposed options is to store water during periods when rivers are full so that it can be used during droughts.
