Meteorological service issues freezing rain alert for Budapest and northern regions

The national meteorological service (OMSZ) has issued a second level freezing rain alert for Budapest and the counties of Pest, Borsod-Abaúj, Heves and Nógrád, and warned of winter road conditions in most parts of the country.

With periodic snowfalls, sleet and freezing rain moving on from the western regions to the east, several hours of intensive freezing rain is expected to form thick ice layers in the capital city and in the northern mountain ranges on Thursday afternoon, the service said. In the Danube Bend and in Nógrád and Borsod Counties and the Mátra mountain up to 5 millimetres of snow is expected later in the day, the OMSZ said.

In the northern mountain ranges, in Szabolcs County’s north and in the Danube Bend 5-15cms of snow is expected to fall during the day, it said.

Later in the day, sleet and in places freezing rain can be expected in the southern, south-western regions.

According to forecasts, 20 millimetres of rain is expected to fall in the central Great Plain region until Thursday midnight to be followed by intensive rainfall on Friday.

Authorities have advised drivers and the public of observing precautions, follow weather and traffic reports and drive carefully.

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