BUDAPEST, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian weather authorities on Tuesday issued alerts for freezing rain across large parts of the country, warning of hazardous road conditions and travel disruptions.
HungaroMet, the national meteorological service, issued second-degree "orange" warnings in Budapest and parts of Pest county. Similar alerts are active for Gyor-Moson-Sopron and Komarom-Esztergom counties, as well as parts of Fejer county. First-degree "yellow" alerts were also in effect for western and southern regions.
Budapest's Liszt Ferenc International Airport temporarily suspended arrivals and departures on Tuesday due to freezing rain and severe icing, airport authorities said.
Meteorologists said freezing rain is expected to bring several millimeters of ice accumulation in northern Transdanubia, while snowfall expands eastward. Northeastern and eastern regions could see between 4 and 10 centimeters of fresh snow by Tuesday evening.
Budapest municipal services have deployed more than 100 specialized vehicles and 500 workers for de-icing and snow clearance. Operations are prioritizing major arteries, public transport routes, and access roads to hospitals.
The National Directorate General for Disaster Management reported that while emergency callouts have increased due to slippery roads, no settlements have been cut off and no major road closures are currently in place.
Authorities have urged motorists to use winter tires and advised the public to use public transportation where possible.
Additionally, officials noted that Lake Balaton has frozen over, a phenomenon that occurs roughly once every 10 to 15 years. However, they warned that the ice is currently too thin for skating and urged the public to stay off the surface for safety reasons. ■
