Snow melting and rising water levels will also be driven by rain and gusty winds.
According to the current forecast of the Global Forecast system, relatively cool weather is expected in Latvia until the morning of Saturday, December 16, with the thermometer bar temporarily slipping to -10 C as the sky clears. On the coast in Kurzeme, the air will warm to +5 C as early as Friday.
Temperatures are forecast to rise to +2 C to +7 C across Latvia on Sunday, with maximum air temperatures expected to be even higher next week. Precipitation and strong winds are often expected.
In several Kurzeme rivers, flooding is expected next week, and later across the country.
Currently, lakes and parts of rivers are covered by a layer of snow, which has delayed a thick layer of ice forming. Measurements of the thickness of ice have been carried out only in isolated locations. According to the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center, ice is eight centimeters thick on average in Lake Alūksne; in Lake Rāzna, the average thickness of ice reaches 12 centimeters, on the Pededze at Litene and on the Lielupe at Sloka – 10 and 11 centimeters respectively.
Snow thickness according to data from state observation stations in Kurzeme, Zemgale and Vidzeme coast is on average 10-20 centimeters, and 25-30 centimeters in the eastern part of the country.
The water level has risen by two meters in Daugava near Jēkabpils during the last week. Water levels are stable in most of Latvia's rivers. Hydrologists predict a sharp rise in water levels will begin later this week.
