Snow accumulated around the foothills of the Hissar Mountains: the risk of flooding increased in spring
In the foothills of the Hissar Mountains, especially in the mountainous regions of Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions, precipitation this year is noticeably higher than usual. At first glance, this is good news: snow and rain are additional reserves for reservoirs, springs, and rivers. But there's another side: mountain village roads are being blocked, and in spring, the risk of flooding may increase.
Climatologist Erkin Abdulakhatov noted that since December 2025, precipitation has been almost continuous. It snowed for several days, and before the snow had melted, it had mixed with rain and snow again. As a result, more snow reserves have accumulated in the Hissar and Alay mountain ranges compared to the usual season.
The specialist says that this situation was also clearly recorded at observation stations in the mountains. For example, it is reported that about 2 meters of snow has accumulated on the Anzob Pass, which connects Khujand and Dushanbe. This is almost twice as high as in 2024, when there was a lot of precipitation. That year too, the amount of precipitation was high in the winter and spring months. For this reason, there is hope that the situation with water reserves this year may be much more stable and productive.
But deep snow doesn't always mean "only profit." Heavy precipitation also creates dangerous situations. This night, reports circulated about an avalanche on the M-34 highway in Tajikistan, at the entrance to the Anzob Pass. As a result, cars and people were trapped inside the tunnel. Such situations disrupt road traffic, threaten safety, and complicate rescue operations.
Similar phenomena are observed in Uzbekistan. Images circulated on social media showing the closure of roads connecting mountain villages in the Nurota and Khatirchi districts of the Navoi region. In particular, it is noted that 2-3 meters of snow have accumulated on the roads leading to the villages of Chuya and Langar. There is also information that the 10-kilometer road leading to the village of Kyzyltom in the Kamashi district was covered in snow for almost two months, and the village was cut off from the outside world.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the snow depth in some places reached 2-3 meters. This situation may not be a complete "never happened" extraordinary anomaly, but it is noted that such a scale has been almost uncommon in recent years. This means that nature has switched not to the "ordinary winter" scenario, but to a more intense regime.
According to climatologists, climate change has become increasingly noticeable in recent years. The early arrival of spring and the rapid onset of hot days can lead to rapid snowmelt. If rainfall also increases at this time, the water level in streams and rivers rises rapidly, and the risk of flooding increases. In years with abundant snow reserves, the "more water per day" scenario is especially dangerous: the ground does not have time to saturate with moisture, flows intensify, and the danger increases in low-lying areas.
Therefore, this issue is not limited to Uzbekistan alone. In neighboring Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, it is also important to strengthen riverbeds, restore banks, and carry out preventive work in hazardous areas in advance. Experts believe that this season will be especially demanding for the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Water Resources: control, warning, and a rapid action plan are more important than ever.
In short, this year's heavy snowfall is both an opportunity and a test. When water reserves increase, there is benefit for fields, gardens, and drinking water in summer. However, if spring preparations are not strong, problems such as floods and road closures can have serious consequences. The most correct way is to strengthen precautionary measures now: opening dangerous roads, inspecting riverbeds, and launching a rapid warning system for the population. Nature has given a big "signal" - now it remains to read it correctly.
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