The beginning of ice drift is expected on the Western Dvina in the coming days

April 1, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. Ice drift is expected to begin on the Western Dvina River in the coming days, the regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations informed a BELTA correspondent. Overall, the spring flood is developing stably and calmly across the region. Over the past 24 hours, water levels on the rivers of the Western Dvina basin fluctuated by 2 to 11 cm. According to snow surveys, fields in the southwestern part of the region are partially cleared of snow. Snow cover remains in the rest of the territory, with an average depth of 17 to 36 cm. The water equivalent in the snow has decreased to 56-103 mm (depending on the snow cover depth). Soil freezing depth ranges from 2-5 cm in the Verkhnedvinsk and Polotsk areas to 12-30 cm (Lepel, Dokshitsy, Lyntupy, Vitebsk). The maximum freezing depth is observed in the Sharkovshchina area and is 49 cm. Due to predicted precipitation and positive air temperatures, ice breakup and water level rise processes will intensify on the rivers of the Western Dvina basin. The expected start of ice drift may be accompanied by ice jams, which in turn can provoke flooding of territories. In this regard, personnel and equipment of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, as well as workers and machinery of enterprises involved in ensuring the accident-free passage of the spring flood, have been put on alert throughout the region. -0-