Recent statements from Roman Vilfand, the scientific director of the Center for Hydrometeorology, indicate that air temperatures in several regions of Russia continue to diverge from long-term climatic norms. In the eastern part of the country, the deviation from the seasonal average can reach as much as 20 degrees, a point Vilfand shared in interviews with RT. This mirrors a broader pattern of unprecedented cold that has unsettled communities and prompted fresh attention from meteorological authorities.
Vilfand notes that the Volga region, the Urals, and Western Siberia are still experiencing temperatures far below normal, with margins ranging from 10 to 20 degrees. He highlighted frost events reaching extreme lows, including readings of -40 to -42 °C in parts of the Urals, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, and Sverdlovsk regions. These readings mark a significant intensification of cold compared with typical winters and have implications for daily life, infrastructure, and energy demand in the affected areas.
In Western Siberia, several large subdivisions such as Omsk, Tomsk, and Novosibirsk report frosts plunging around 45 degrees below zero. The Krasnoyarsk Territory has seen temperatures down to about 50 degrees below zero, while Western Yakutia has endured frosts near 45 degrees below zero. Such conditions are producing formidable winter stress on housing, utilities, and transportation networks across these vast territories.
Vilfand emphasized that scientists and meteorologists frequently speak of “Siberian frosts,” but in current conditions many observers are referring to them as “super Siberian frosts” because the cold is harsher and more widespread than in recent years. This phrasing captures the marked departure from historical norms and underscores the unusual persistence of the cold spell.
Beyond the frost, the weather picture includes snowfall and accumulations in European Russia and the Northwestern Federal District. Forecasters warn of heavy rains in the Leningrad, Pskov, and Novgorod regions, while the Volga, Ryazan, and Moscow regions can expect substantial snowfall and snowstorms in areas where winds pick up in the evening hours. Communities in these regions should prepare for changing road conditions, potential delays, and heightened demand for heating and winter supplies.
Forecasts also call for heavy sleet in the Rostov, Belgorod, and Lipetsk regions. Vilfand attributes these wintry mix events to the movement of Atlantic air masses into the western European portion of Russia, which interacts with regional temperature contrasts to produce mixed precipitation with challenging driving conditions in many locales.
Residents should be aware that authorities have issued a weather danger level in Moscow, citing wind gusts up to 15 m/s, snow flurries, and ice. The warning remains in effect until Wednesday at 11:00. This advisory reflects the convergence of high winds with frozen precipitation, which can reduce visibility and create hazardous travel circumstances and icy surfaces on roads and sidewalks.
There have already been operational adjustments in some cities due to the frost. For example, schools in Chelyabinsk canceled classes in response to the severe freezing conditions, a decision taken to safeguard students and staff from the risks associated with extreme cold. Such measures illustrate how local authorities respond to rapidly changing winter weather and the importance of timely public communication during cold snaps.
As the cold persists, residents across affected regions are urged to use extra caution. Wearing layered clothing, safeguarding pipes prone to freezing, ensuring reliable heating, and checking on vulnerable neighbors are practical steps during periods of extreme cold. Meteorologists also recommend monitoring official forecasts for updates on wind, precipitation, and temperature trends, as conditions can evolve quickly in winter’s deep freeze. All these factors together shape daily routines, emergency preparedness, and long-term planning for communities bracing for continued cold anomalies this season.
In summary, the current weather pattern in Russia showcases unusually deep and widespread frost alongside notable snowfall and winter precipitation, driven by air mass movements from the Atlantic toward Europe. The combination of extreme cold and icy conditions in multiple regions highlights the need for vigilance, preparedness, and clear communication as localities navigate these unusual winter conditions. [citation: Hydrometeorology Center briefing, national weather service reports, regional forecasts]