Authorities have warned the public against driving across frozen lakes and rivers after a Toyota Prius-30 broke through the ice at Noogt Lake in Tariat soum of Arkhangai Province, leaving two passengers submerged in the water. Emergency response personnel from the provincial emergency management department promptly responded to the accident and rescued both individuals, according to the information provided.
Although lakes and rivers have begun freezing as temperatures drop, the ice has not yet become thick or strong enough to support the weight of vehicles. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has therefore urged the public to avoid driving on frozen bodies of water and to take precautions to protect their safety.
Meanwhile, Mongolia experienced winter weather conditions across several regions as snow, wet snow and snowstorms were forecast between October 22 and 26, according to the national weather forecast. During the night of October 22 and 23, zero to six mm of wet snow and snow was expected in Khovd, Govi-Altai, southern Bayankhongor, northern Tuv and some soums of Selenge provinces. On October 23, similar precipitation is forecast for parts of Umnugovi, southern Dornogovi, and northern soums of Khuvsgul and Zavkhan provinces, accompanied by snowstorms.
Light snowfall of zero to one mm is expected on October 24 in parts of Bayan-Ulgii, Uvs, Khovd, Zavkhan and Khuvsgul provinces. Further light snow is forecast for parts of Zavkhan, Khuvsgul and Govi-Altai provinces on October 25, followed by northern Tuv and parts of Selenge, Khentii and Dornod provinces on October 26. Winds are expected to strengthen to 15-17 meters per second in the Gobi, steppe and grassland regions on October 23, 24 and 26, potentially creating risky conditions for travelers.
Nighttime temperatures were forecast to fall to minus 23 to 28 degrees Celsius in the Darkhad Depression and near the headwaters of the Zavkhan, Zag and Baidrag rivers. Temperatures of minus 17 to 22 degrees were expected in the mountainous areas of the Altai, Khangai, Khuvsgul and Khentii ranges, as well as in the valleys of the Ider, Tes, Tuul and Terelj rivers. During the daytime, temperatures were expected to remain between minus seven and 12 degrees in the Darkhad Depression, the mountainous regions of the Altai, Khangai, Khuvsgul and Khentii ranges, and the valleys of the Zavkhan, Zag, Baidrag, Ider and Tes rivers. The southern Gobi was forecast to reach one to six degrees above zero, while temperatures elsewhere were expected to range from minus one to six degrees.
With freezing temperatures, snowfall and strong winds affecting parts of the country, authorities have urged residents and travelers to remain alert and avoid unnecessary risks, particularly when crossing frozen lakes and rivers before the ice has fully hardened.
