St Petersburg - Itar-Tass
Strong western winds stirred up a water rise on Neva River. The water level at the Mining Institute, which is a control point of the St. Petersburg weather forecasting service, has made 98 cm at 10:00 local time (6:00 a.m. GMT) on Sunday. The water level is 110 cm at the port of Kronshtadt on the outer side of the St. Petersburg dam with the critical level of 160 cm. Navigation passes and water sluices of the St. Peteersburg flood protecting facilities were closed at 02:30 Moscow time. “All facilities operate as scheduled. The peak of the water rise is expected by 17.00-18.00 Moscow time,” the directorate of the city flood protecting facilities. According to the forecast of the weather forecasting service in St. Petersburg a water rise up to two metres (without the closing of the dam) on Neva River is expected. The latest closing of the flood protecting facilities to avert a flood took place on November 29, 2013. Thanks to this fact the water level rise to 2,6 meters was prevented in the city of St. Petersburg. As many as 309 floods were reported in the city on Neva River since the day of city’s foundation. The total number of floods makes 313 together with prevented floods thanks to the flood protective facilities.