Snowfall in some areas of Albania, Civil Protection: Working to keep road axes open

Lower temperatures have brought snowfall this spring in the northern areas of the country, but also in the southeast.

According to reports from the structures of the Civil Protection system at the National Operational Center for Civil Emergencies, the situation on the National Road as a result of heavy snowfall on several road axes today is under control. 27 snowplows and salt spreaders are working simultaneously, with 8 snowplows working on the part of the axis that lies in the territory of the Lezha District (Mirditë municipality), while the rest of the vehicles, 19 vehicles, are working on the part of this axis in the territory of the Kukës District. The axis is passable.

On the national road axis Elbasan-Qafë Thanë, in Qafë Thanë there is the presence of snowfall and on the ground there are the vehicles of the contracting company that are clearing the axis from snow. There is also about 10 cm of snow on the national road axis Zgosht-Ura Cerenec. There too, work is being done with a snow removal vehicle to keep the circulation of vehicles open.

According to the announcement from the Civil Protection system, snowfall has begun in the Korça Region throughout the territory at altitudes above 700 m. Contractors are on standby, enabling winter maintenance of the main and secondary tourist routes in the municipality.

The territory of the Dibër district at an altitude of over 500 meters above sea level has been affected by snowfalls ranging from 3-15 cm and continue to be present with medium intensity.

The situation in road infrastructure, both national and rural, continues to be accessible throughout the territory. Contracting entities are working with vehicles and salting in segments where problems are occurring.

The entire territory of the Kukës region has been affected by rain and snow, which continue to be present at this time. All national road axes are normally passable. The contractor continues to work on clearing snow and salting those segments where necessary in order to keep them functional.

In Shkodra region, all national road axes are passable. On the Bogë-Theth road axis, passage is only possible by high-passage vehicles equipped with chains. Currently, a snow removal vehicle is working on this axis, which makes it impossible to cover the entire segment. The Tamarë - Vermosh road axis is passable, but the use of winter tires and chains is recommended.

From the reports of the structures of the civil defense system at the local level, all the rivers and reservoirs are within their normal quotas and do not pose any danger.

For tomorrow, average precipitation is expected in the Dibër region, while in the other regions, light to locally average precipitation is expected, accompanied by thunderstorms. In the mountainous areas in the North, Northeast, East and Southeast of the country, at altitudes above 500 m above sea level, precipitation will be in the form of snow.

Minimum and maximum air temperatures are expected to reach: on the coast: 5 / 12 °C; in lowlands: 2 / 13 °C; in mountainous areas: -4 / 4 °C.

The wind is expected to blow light to moderate, while monitoring and coordination with all central and local institutions continue to manage in a timely manner any emergency situation that may arise.