Southern Cyclone Brings Snow, Ice, and Strong Winds to Ukraine
A southern cyclone is impacting Ukraine, bringing with it a mix of precipitation, icy conditions, and strong winds. While a gradual warming trend is anticipated later in the week, most regions will experience challenging weather conditions on February 18th, according to forecaster Natalka Didenko.
Weather Forecast for February 18th
Didenko indicated that the cyclone’s trajectory will primarily affect western and northern Ukraine on February 18th, though precipitation levels are expected to be moderate. Although, snow, ice, and gusty winds are still anticipated in these regions.
Central Ukraine will face the most severe weather, with forecasts predicting snow, sleet, ice accumulation, and strong northeast winds. Eastern Ukraine will also be affected, primarily with rain. Southern regions are expected to receive rain, with sleet possible in the Odessa region. Gale-force winds and heavy rainfall are also warned.
Overnight temperatures will range from -5 to -9 degrees Celsius, dropping to -10 to -15 degrees Celsius in northern regions. Daytime temperatures on February 18th are expected to be -2 to -7 degrees Celsius, warming to 0 to +3 degrees Celsius in the south, southeast, and Transcarpathia, and reaching +5 to +10 degrees Celsius in Crimea.
Kyiv Weather Outlook
Kyiv is expected to witness snow late in the afternoon on February 18th, potentially leading to icy road conditions. The overnight temperature will plummet to -12 degrees Celsius, with a daytime temperature around -8 degrees Celsius.
Recent Flooding in Ukraine
Ukraine has recently experienced widespread flooding due to rapid warming and snowmelt. The Cherkasy, Poltava, Kirovograd, Kharkiv, and Odessa regions were the most affected, with water inundating courtyards, basements, roads, and even residential buildings.
In the Poltava region, frozen ground prevented water absorption, leading to household flooding. The Kirovograd region saw 25 communities impacted, and in Kropyvnytskyi, an animal shelter housing nearly 200 dogs was flooded. The Kharkiv region experienced flooding in Izyum, Berestinsky, and Kharkiv districts, including Izyum, Barvenkovo, and Yuzhny. The Odessa region reported damage in dozens of settlements in the Razdelnyansky and Berezovsky districts, with over 150 homes flooded.