The snowstorm forecast and its potential to break records
Officials from Russia’s Hydrometeorological Center warned that Moscow could see snowdrifts surpassing the 34 cm record set on December 19, 1941, by December 19. The current snow depth at the Roshydromet main station in Moscow stood at 22 cm, after reaching 5 cm on December 13.
Senior meteorologist Roman Vilfand explained that a powerful cyclone moving from southwest to northeast across European Russia would bring heavy, possibly intense, precipitation. He noted the odds of breaking the old snow depth record were not negligible. He projected that by Monday the snow height could rise by another 15–20 cm, resulting in drifts around 40 cm in many areas and higher in some spots.
Forecasts from meteorology indicate heavy snow and black ice in Moscow and the surrounding region on December 17, with the snow intensifying on December 18. A blizzard is anticipated, with winds reaching up to 15 m/s, creating challenging driving and flight conditions.
Vilfand drew comparisons to historic scenes from the Moscow region’s 1941 counteroffensive, describing snow nipping at waists and foretelling similar conditions under the current weather pattern.
During December 18, temperatures in the capital were expected to range from -2 to -4 degrees Celsius, with -5 to -7 degrees in the surrounding area. Some forecasts noted values around -4 to -9 degrees as well. The Moscow municipality stated that city services would operate in an enhanced mode to manage the heavy snowfall, which has reached the greatest depth observed since winter began.
The situation at airports
Data from the Yandex Tariffs service showed more than 40 flights delayed or canceled across Moscow’s three airports—Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo—due to the severe weather. By 11:10 local time, Vnukovo reported eight delays and ten additional cancellations; at Sheremetyevo, six departures were delayed and the same number were canceled. Domodedovo saw one cancellation and twelve delays. The service counted any schedule deviation of 30 minutes or more as a delay.
Airport authorities noted that no cancellations had been issued in the Başkent region due to weather, and that carriers typically postpone departures rather than cancel during adverse conditions. Even so, aviation officials warned that flight times could shift as crews navigate icing risks and other winter hazards.
Airports explained that schedule changes may occur as aircraft avoid icing and other dangerous conditions on the ground and in the air.
Yellow danger level
A yellow weather hazard has been declared for Moscow and the surrounding region, with the warning valid through 12:00 on December 18. The alert signals potential harm and disruption to daily activities, though it does not imply an immediate threat to life. The Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergencies issued an emergency warning for snowfall, icing and stronger winds in the area.
Roshydromet forecasts indicate heavy, and in some places very heavy, snowfall on the night of December 18, with blizzards and winds up to 15 meters per second. North winds were also expected to intensify, accompanied by sleet on roads and accumulating snow in many locales.
For several days, Moscow has faced heavy snowfall that has clogged traffic, with significant slowdowns and long jams reported on major routes. One navigation service manager advised avoiding driving in such conditions, noting that snowdrifts filled streets and completely blocked some lanes as trucks struggled to maneuver and overtake. At the time when snowdrifts reached 28 cm in spots, the city was already grappling with severe disruption.