Almost a decade's worth of precipitation fell over the weekend in the Vitebsk region

October 29, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Almost a ten-day norm of precipitation fell over the weekend in the Vitebsk region, the Vitebsk Regional Center for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring ("Vitebskoblhydromet") informed a BELTA correspondent. The region transitioned from autumn almost directly into winter due to a southern cyclone. The first snow fell on October 26. In general, the earliest snowfall in the Vitebsk region was recorded on September 23, 1973. The main amount of precipitation - from 60% to 90% of the ten-day norm - fell in the region on the night of October 27-28. The largest amount fell in the Senno, Orsha, and other southeastern districts of the region. Snowfalls were accompanied by icy conditions and reduced visibility to 500-700 m - phenomena characteristic of winter. The maximum snow cover depth the day before ranged from 6 cm to 12 cm. The first days of the current week, according to forecasters, are expected to have temperatures down to minus 3-4 degrees Celsius during the day and night. A daytime thaw is predicted from November 1, and in the following days, warm air masses will maintain positive temperatures at night as well. The deterioration of weather conditions was predictable and did not cause particular trouble for utility workers, energy providers, and road workers, but brought more problems to motorists. In total, 73 accidents without injuries occurred in the region over the past weekend, 29 of which were in Vitebsk, reported Olesya Seregina, head of the agitation and propaganda department of the traffic police of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Internal Affairs Directorate. One of the main contributing factors to the accidents, besides the adverse weather conditions, was the unpreparedness of drivers who had not changed their summer tires to winter ones. -0-