"The weather situation is unfavourable, similar to the situation we had last winter," explained meteorologist Brane Gregorčič. A vast cyclone is hovering over the Mediterranean Sea, which causes relatively warm and moist air to flow in in the altitude, and there is an anticyclone over Eastern Europe. At the contact of these air masses the temperatures can be negative in the lower layers, and positive in the higher levels, Gregorčič described the situation.

The influence can be felt the most on the east of the Panonnian Plane, where quite intensive sleet occurred. "Slovenia is at the edge of this phenomenon, therefore we do not expect the catastrophic conditions which occurred last winter. Yet sleet and black ice are possible in the areas at the altitude between 600 and 1200 metres above the sea level, perhaps also today, but more intensively during the night, and on Thursday. The thickness of the ice cover can reach from a couple of millimetres to a centimetre. This phenomenon won't manifest itself in low lying regions," Gregorčič continued, and added that this week no snow is predicted in low lying regions, perhaps in the middle of next week.

Pivka and Ljubljanica are flooding
The water level at the Planinsko polje field has increased by 46 centimetres in last 24 hours. In coming days the water level will be increasing. Today and during the night the agency expects the increase of the water level by 20 to 30 centimetres.

The Pivka and the Ljubljanica rivers are flooding the frequently flooded areas, but the currents of both have started diminishing.
On Thursday between 6 and 9 a.m. the sea water level can exceed 300 centimetres at the Koper mareographic station, and the sea could flood the lowest lying parts of the coast, warns Arso.

G. C.