Haykakan Zhamanak: Weather service did not warn of heavy snow

‘Haykakan Zhamanak’ daily asked Gagik Surenian, the deputy head of Hydrometeorological Service of Ministry of Emergency Situation, if the recent unprecedented snow and frost were unexpected for the staff of the Service. “If it had been unexpected, we would not have given a press conference on March 28,” Surenian replied.

At the March 28 press conference Surenian announced that snow and sleet were expected in most regions of Armenia and air temperatures would drop to – 4 on March 31. But in reality hail and a heavy snowfall occurred, of which the Hydrometeorological Service did not warn, and the frosts were sharper than forecast.

“We did not predict the hail. But I spoke about snow, although I did not clarify whether it would be heavy or light. And it does not make any difference whether temperatures fell to -4 or -7. In any case there were frosts and we regret it,” Surenian told the paper.