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Storm Building Over Black Sea to Complicate Travel Out of Ukraine
If you have been watching the television coverage of the war in Ukraine, you may have noticed how bitterly cold the region is as the conflict rages on. The United Nations (UN) estimates that at least 600,000 Ukrainians have fled the country in search of safety.
Ukrainians Flee Country Amidst Terrible Winter Weather
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The majority of the refugees are looking to enter the countries of Poland, Romania, Hungary, or Slovakia. This mass exodus is happening as the refugees battle extremely uncomfortable weather conditions.
As the hordes of Ukrainians rush to the border to escape the war, they have been met with long lines, necessitating that they stand out in the cold for days. The lines to cross the border stretch for miles in some of the most inclement weather conditions on the planet during this time. In addition to freezing temperatures, the refugees are also encountering snowy conditions.
Pictures have flooded in of refugees dragging their belongings through the snow as they inch toward the borders. While many have tried to catch trains out of Ukraine’s largest cities, seats are difficult to come by, forcing many to take off for the border on foot.
Conditions at Busiest Border
The Polish city of Medyka is the busiest border crossing in recent days due to proximity to the major Ukraine city of Lviv. In addition to being the most crowded border crossing location, Medyka has also experienced some of the coldest temperatures in Europe over the last few days. The overnight lows in the area fell below 30 degrees for five consecutive days to close out February.
The average high temperature for Medyka is 39 degrees with the average lows sitting at 28 degrees. The forecast for Medyka in the coming days indicates that both daily high and low temperature readings will be below normal, delivering another crushing blow to Ukrainians looking to escape.
Precipitation Also in the Long-Range Forecast
Snow was the story on Monday throughout the region, complicating the border crossing effort even further. Volunteers in Romania handed out raincoats to refugees at their borders standing in the snow and cold.
Unfortunately, an active weather pattern is setting up over Eastern Europe to start the month of March. A storm is building in the western Black Sea, raising the risk of accumulating snow for the eastern parts of Bulgaria and Romania, Moldova, and the majority of Ukraine over the next few days.
The rain will mix with snow in the southern tier of Ukraine with snow accumulations predicted for the higher terrains and through Crimea. The stormy conditions are forecast to continue through Friday for this region.
This storm will usher in even colder temperatures beginning on March 6 for Ukraine. This cold is forecast to settle in for a few days, bringing mercury readings that are below normal.
