Rivers in Altai and other Russian regions hit critical low water levels

Rivers across the Altai region have reached critically low water levels this summer, while Russia's Hydrometeorological Center has reported similar hydrological problems in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Novosibirsk Oblast and Kirov Oblast. Specialists have classified the readings as dangerous phenomena requiring close monitoring. Marina Makarova, a leading specialist at the Hydrometeorological Center, said water conditions across the rest of the country remain within the normal range. Experts do not expect river levels to rise suddenly to dangerous marks in the coming days, although unfavorable readings are forecast in several regions. "No rise in river levels to dangerous marks is occurring anywhere, and none is forecast in the coming days. However, unfavorable levels are expected on August 27 in rivers of the North Caucasus and in Krasnoyarsk, Khabarovsk, Primorsky and Zabaykalsky krais," Makarova said.