No Risk of Frostbite: Gagik Surenyans

Despite the influx of cold air currents into the republic, there is no risk of frostbite, stated Gagik Surenyans, head of the Meteorological Center of the RA Ministry of Emergency Situations, in an interview with Tert.am.

“As was warned yesterday, due to the influx of cold air currents, there have been snowfalls in all mountainous regions, with snow even falling in Syunik. Interestingly, no snow came to Meghri throughout the winter, but today, April 20, marks the first snowfall of the year. However, we do not see any risk of frostbite at this moment,” he said.

According to Surenyans, in the valley areas where it has snowed, such as the Tavush and Syunik valleys, positive temperatures have been recorded. “That is to say, temperatures have reached +2, +3 degrees. Under such conditions, there can be no danger to the orchards—it's wet snow that melts quickly. In the Ararat plain and the adjacent hill areas, where the orchards are fully blossoming, we also assert that there is no risk of frostbite in the coming days, because during nighttime, a thick cloud cover is preserved, and under such cloudy conditions, there is no decrease in temperature at night—the cloud cover acts like a 'blanket',” he explained.

Surenyans also addressed the statement by Minister of Emergency Situations Felix Tsolakyan regarding the upcoming risks of landslides and floods. He noted that when the minister mentioned flooding, he did not mean major floods, but rather that rivers could overflow their banks.