In September 2023, Moscow saw weather records that will long be remembered in the city’s 144-year chronology of meteorological observations. Both heat and dryness aligned to create a rare combination, signaling a month that stood out in the annals of climate in the capital. Local forecasts and historical data compiled by the Moscow Meteorological Bureau point to a September that surpassed all previous milestones for temperature and precipitation, marking a turning point in how residents experience early autumn. The record-setting warmth and the unusually arid conditions were reported by kp.ru and are now part of the official narrative about that extraordinary month (Source: kp.ru).
At the outset of autumn, the average air temperature in Moscow ran about 3 degrees higher than the long-term climatic norms. This pushed the overall warmth toward levels that have historically only appeared in the most intense heat episodes. The prior temperature record for September had been set in 1938, a benchmark that is now surpassed by a margin of roughly 2.9 degrees. The combination of heat and persistence of dry air painted a picture of a city that felt more like late summer than early fall, influencing daily routines, energy use, and outdoor activity across the metropolitan area.
The drought played a starring role in this unusual month. Rainfall was exceptionally scarce, with only 7 millimeters of precipitation recorded in the capital during September. That total stands out starkly against the regional norm of 66 millimeters for the month, underscoring how arid conditions dominated the atmosphere. Historical comparisons emphasize the rarity of such a dry spell, especially when the previous record low rainfall of 7.9 millimeters had endured since 1882. The scarcity of rain not only affected soil moisture and greenery but also shaped water management considerations for city services and individual gardeners alike. The drought’s footprint extended beyond Moscow, illustrating how widespread this unusual dryness was across the European part of Russia during that period (Source: kp.ru).
The weather narrative from that month extended into other nearby cities in the European Russian plain. The newspaper coverage highlighted a broader pattern of abnormal dryness beyond Moscow’s borders. In Yaroslavl, rainfall measured a mere 11 millimeters, while Vladimir and Smolensk logged around 20 millimeters. Kursk faced an even starker deficit, recording only 1 millimeter of rain. These figures confirmed that the September drought was not a Moscow anomaly but a regional climate event, reshaping expectations for autumn rainfall in communities from the Volga region westward. The pattern fed into discussions among meteorologists about shifting seasonal norms and potential implications for agriculture, groundwater reserves, and urban water planning (Source: kp.ru).
Looking ahead, meteorologists anticipated a continuation of mild and relatively dry conditions as Moscow moved into October. The forecast suggested a gradual moderation rather than an abrupt shift, with relatively warm days ahead and a notable absence of both significant rainfall and frost in the early days of the new month. Temperatures were expected to climb into the range of 15–18°C, offering a brief window of comfortable autumn weather before winter patterns potentially reassert themselves. This outlook provided residents with practical guidance for planning outdoor activities, travel, and daily routines while highlighting the close ties between atmospheric patterns and daily life in the capital (Source: kp.ru).
In retrospective discussions, observers noted that the month carried echoes of an Indian summer—an extended period of warm days that lingered as the season prepared to turn. The occurrence aligned with broader climate observations across the region, where warm spells have become more conspicuous in recent decades. While the exact drivers of September 2023’s warmth remain a subject of scientific analysis, the month served as a concrete reminder that weather can swing sharply and unexpectedly, reshaping public expectations about what constitutes a typical September in Moscow. As the city reflects on that period, it also weighs the implications for future seasonal planning, infrastructure resilience, and the everyday rhythms of life in a capital that continues to experience climate variability with increasing frequency (Source: kp.ru).