Prolonged snowstorm pushes Latvia snow cover to 12-year high

RIGA, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- A prolonged snowstorm on Friday left Latvia covered in the deepest snow since spring 2013, the Baltic country's meteorology service reported Saturday.

The thickest snow cover, measuring 62 centimeters, was recorded at the weather station of the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center in Dagda, southeastern Latvia. In April 2013, a snow depth of 70 centimeters was recorded in Latvia's northeastern town of Aluksne.

While snow cover grew by more than 10 centimeters in many parts of the country this weekend, it did not increase in some western and northern regions. Some weather stations even registered a decrease as strong winds blew the snow away.

The Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center's weather stations measure snow depth using ultrasound sensors in specially prepared areas. ■