Upper Volga Water Levels Drop Dramatically in Central Russia

The Upper Volga River in Tver region (Central Russia) is experiencing a fundamental shift in its hydrological cycle. Spring floods are weakening, and water levels are dropping to the point where sections of the river near Rzhev have become shallow enough to cross on foot. In some areas, the volume of the spring runoff has fallen by more than half. This decline is driven by a change in winter weather patterns. Warmer winters with frequent thaws cause snow to melt earlier and more gradually. Consequently, less water accumulates for the traditional spring surge. Higher air temperatures further exacerbate the situation by increasing evaporation rates. The trend became particularly evident in 2025. Data from the Central Hydrometeorological Service shows that above the Ivanovsky Reservoir, flood levels were 0.7 to 2.5 meters below the norm. Compared to the previous year, the gap reached three meters.