Amur River's spring ice drift reaches Nikolayevsk after early thaw upstream

The spring ice drift has begun along the Amur River, with the latest movement recorded in Nikolayevsk-on-Amur on May 8. This year’s breakup follows a pattern of early thawing in some areas, though the timing near Nikolayevsk remains close to the usual schedule. The ice near Khabarovsk started drifting on April 12, earlier than expected. Historical records show the Amur has broken up as soon as April 7 in past years, but this year’s movement still arrived ahead of the long-term average.

Further downstream, Komsomolsk-on-Amur saw its ice drift begin on April 21—nine days sooner than normal. Meanwhile, Nikolayevsk-on-Amur experienced its breakup at 5:30 a.m. on May 8, aligning with typical seasonal patterns. Last year, the drift near Nikolayevsk started on April 30, slightly earlier than this year. With the thaw progressing steadily, officials now expect the entire Amur River to be ice-free within days.

The ice drift has moved from Khabarovsk to Komsomolsk and now Nikolayevsk, marking the final stages of this year’s thaw. While some areas saw earlier breakups, the overall process remains consistent with long-term trends. The full clearing of ice is anticipated to complete soon.