The orange degree of danger of black ice and sleet for the areas lying between 600 and 1200 metres above the sea level stands until the end of the day. Sleet has already covered some higher regions in the City Municipality Nova Gorica, and the municipalities of Kanal, Cerkno, Idrija, and Ajdovščina. It caused problems mostly at Gora above Ajdovščina, where 400 people were left without power.

"Sleet caused failure of electric power at the section of the power line between Kovk towards Predmeja, but we have already managed to repair the defect, and at the section of the power line between Kanji Dol towards Vodice, which we are still working on. Presently 41 clients are still without electric energy. But as the power line is down, and 10 poles are lying on the ground, we intend to set four generators, and thus assure power for all the clients. We estimate that the repair of the downed power line will take a week," Elektro Primorska wrote in its public statement.

As reported by Radio Slovenia journalist Karin Zorn, this time the ice cover is not as thick as in February of this year, but the north wind, burja, caused additional problems. "In the area of Predmeja, Otlice and Kovka the situation is manageable, electric services expect to be able to repair the damage, as mostly only the lines are torn. The problems are larger at Vodice, where eight poles of the power line are down," Igor Benko, head of the Civil Defence of Ajdovščina said for Radio Slovenija.

Civil Defence is ready in case the situation deteriorates. "The weather forecast predicts this inversion to last until tomorrow morning, so that we have already prepared our generators in case another part of Gora needs help," Benko continued. Sleet covered Javornik as well, but is not causing problems yet. In lesser extent it covered Lazno and Lokovec and some higher regions in the municipalities of Cerkno and Kanal.

The orange degree of danger due to weather issued by the Slovenian Environmental Agency (Arso) is active until the evening, explained the meteorologist on duty Jure Cedilnik.

L. D.
Translated by G. K.