Kazakhstan faces possible avalanche risk

Kazakhstan’s Emergency Situations Ministry has issued a warning to residents and visitors in Almaty about heightened avalanche danger, noting that accumulated snow in the mountains could trigger spontaneous avalanches.

As reported by Caliber.Az, citing local media, officials urged the public to avoid steep, snow-covered slopes and to use only designated, marked routes. The ministry added that preventive work had already been carried out to reduce risks, including controlled avalanche releases covering an area of 3,516 square meters.

Specialists continue to monitor hazardous mountain areas on an ongoing basis. Warning signs have been installed, and informational notices and brochures have been distributed. If conditions deteriorate, authorities may introduce checkpoints to restrict access to zones with elevated avalanche risk.

On January 9, a large anticyclone is influencing most of Kazakhstan, bringing predominantly dry weather. Rain, snow, and gusty winds are forecast only in the western, northwestern, and northern regions.

In Astana, the forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and no precipitation. Southwesterly winds are expected at 2–7 meters per second overnight and 7–12 meters per second during the day. Temperatures will range from minus 17 to minus 19 degrees at night and minus 7 to minus 9 during the day.

In Almaty, the weather will be partly cloudy with no expected precipitation, though fog may occur at times. Northern winds will blow at 2–7 meters per second. Temperatures are forecast at minus 5 to minus 7 degrees overnight and between 0 and plus 2 degrees during the day.