For three days in a row — May 21, 22, and 23 — Ukraine is under the influence of a low atmospheric pressure field and cyclonic processes from the south and southeast. This is not just "changeable weather" from a forecast: the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center has announced Level I danger (yellow) for most regions of the country.
What and where is threatened
On May 22, thunderstorms will cover almost all of Ukraine, except most western regions. In the southern, central (except Poltava), and Kharkiv regions, meteorologists warn of hail and squalls up to 15–20 m/s. On May 23, the zone of dangerous phenomena shifts to the east and south: at risk are Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Sumy, Kirovohrad, and adjacent regions.
Lviv region and Kyiv region have already felt the first blow on May 20–21: thunderstorms, hail, and squalls up to 20–22 m/s were recorded there. In Kyiv region, the warning is in effect until the end of May 21 with continuation on May 22.
Temperature: heat and thunderstorms at the same time
At night across the country — +9…+18°, during the day — +21…+29°, and in the east in places up to +31°. The west remains "cooler" — there daytime temperatures remain within +18…+23°. Synoptic specialist Natalia Ptukha from the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center describes the situation laconically: "Classic May weather" — a sharp contrast between heat and thunderstorms within a single day.
On May 22 during the day in Ukraine, except for most western regions, thunderstorms; in southern, central, and Kharkiv regions in places hail and squalls 15–20 m/s.
Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, warning about dangerous meteorological phenomena
What this means in practice
- DSNS recommends avoiding old trees and power lines during a thunderstorm
- Do not park cars under trees — risk of hail damage
- Monitor updates in applications: the zone and time of hail can shift within hours
- A squall of 20 m/s is 72 km/h: enough to knock down an advertisement billboard or break a branch as thick as your arm
From May 24–25, the activity of fronts gradually shifts to the southeast, and most of the country will get a break — brief rains instead of thunderstorms, and temperatures will rise above +20° again.
If by the end of the week the cyclone does indeed retreat to the east, as meteorologists forecast, will the agricultural season have time to compensate for the rainfall deficit in the south before real summer drought arrives?
