Today's heavy snowfall in Almaty has not only complicated transportation within the city but has also led to a significant increase in taxi fares. The streets are buried under snow, roadways have narrowed, traffic has nearly come to a standstill, and congestion has reached peak levels, reports Tengri Life.
According to monitoring services, the road congestion is rated at 10 points, though many feel the situation is closer to a critical level of 11. Traffic jams are evident in almost all areas of the city, with even short journeys taking hours.
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The inclement weather has also had a sharp impact on taxi prices. Many residents of Almaty are complaining that fares have increased several times over.
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For instance, passengers are now forced to pay over 3000 tenge for a ride of just a couple of kilometers.
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From the city center to the train station, fares can reach up to 5000 tenge.
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The situation is worsened by traffic jams caused by unplowed snow and careless driving. Residents are wondering why this is happening.
"Have we forgotten how to drive? Let's drive properly!" – remarked one city dweller.
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One Almaty resident even drew a parallel between the roadway and parking.
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Residents are advised, if possible, to avoid using personal vehicles, utilize public transportation, or postpone their plans until the weather improves.
According to the weather forecast, on December 21, Almaty will be cloudy with occasional light snow, fog, and snow cover on the roads. The northeast wind will be blowing at 2-7 meters per second. Nighttime temperatures will range from -8 to -10, while daytime temperatures will be between -4 and -6 degrees. On December 22, expect variable cloudiness with snow at night and occasional fog. The wind will remain northeast at 2-7 meters per second. Night temperatures will drop to -12 to -14, with daytime temperatures around -5 to -7 degrees.
It is worth noting that previous reports indicated that snowfall continues in Almaty, leading to snow accumulation on the sides of the roads, which narrows them and slows down traffic. Tengri Auto investigated when snow removal operations would conclude. Details can be found through the link.
By the way, the heavy snowfall has paralyzed the operations at Almaty Airport. More details are available in the article.
Residents and visitors to Almaty have also been asked to temporarily refrain from traveling to Shymbulak and Medeu. More information can be found through the link.