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Altai Republic hit by sudden sub-zero temperatures

Night temperatures are minus one to three degrees Centigrade
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

GORNO-ALTAISK, May 20 (Itar-Tass) —— Air temperatures dropped abruptly in the Republic of Altai last night and snow fell after a number of warm days of 20 degrees Centigrade and higher. The average snow blanket is two centimeters thick, but it reaches eight centimeters in the cattle breeding district Ust-Kan, which is unusual for this season, the Gorno-Altaisk Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Center told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

Night temperatures are minus one to three degrees Centigrade. Only the Teletskoye Lake area had temperatures above zero.

There have been no emergency situations caused by the sudden temperature drop and snowfalls, but weather anomalies may have a bad effect on cattle breeding.

Apple, cherry and plum trees are blooming in Gorno-Altaisk, the administrative center of the Altai Republic located at the altitude of 400 meters above the sea level. Specialists say the sub-zero temperatures will not do harm to the orchards - the republic has been cultivating frost-resistant fruit trees since the 1930.

The previous heavy snowfall in Gorno-Altaisk and suburbs happened on April 22. The snow blanket of five to ten centimeters melted on the same day.