Chronicles of bad weather: now Uzhgorod utilities are being tested by warming

These days, we have been closely monitoring the work of Uzhgorod public services on snow plowing. I should note that yesterday and the day before, the utilities more or less coped with this task.

But today, January 14, it has become much warmer, and all the snow and solid ice crust have turned into a terrible slush. And today, it is clear that it is not in the cold, but right now when the nature really tests the readiness of local authorities to respond to consequences of bad weather.  Right now, the roads and sidewalks are covered with cold mush.

We drove the streets of Uzhgorod at 10 o’clock to see the first results of the municipal services’ work. What we saw was not too encouraging. Main, central streets are more or less clean.

However, once you turn to a side street, you’ll find yourself in deep ruts and deep puddles.

It is difficult for drivers, but it is pedestrians that are real hostages of the bad weather. Feet become wet in just 5-10 minutes of walking.

Also, it is difficult to cross the road, because there are snowdrifts on both sides. Inadequate storm drainage also contributes to the problem – water is accumulated along the road, and every car that passes by may cause a cold dirty shower from under the wheels. And it would be unfair to blame it on the drivers, because it is impossible to predict if there is a pit under every puddle.

But the worst thing for the city may happen later. If all these mountains of slush are not removed promptly, and the cold hits again in a day or two, the city roads will become like a hard lunar landscape – absolutely impassable.

The City Council reported that there had been an urgent meeting of the headquarters on liquidation of the bad weather aftermath, military and their vehicles are engaged in clearing the streets.  We sincerely hope that these efforts will yield positive results by the end of the day.