Evgeny Tishkovets, a leading forecaster with the Phobos meteorological center, shared assessments through the center’s Telegram channel after a day of intense rainfall swept across Moscow. He described the city as experiencing a remarkable rainfall event within a single calendar day, a mark that stood out even by the standard of a metropolis accustomed to weather extremes. According to his notes, the intensity and spread of the downpour across different districts were unusually wide, and the pattern suggested a confluence of atmospheric factors that can drive heavy precipitation in dense urban settings. In central and northern neighborhoods, rain fell with persistent vigor, challenging the usual November expectations and testing the resilience of drainage systems that depend on consistent rainfall patterns. Meteorologists noted the event’s rarity in the context of long-term climate records and stressed that it stood out not just for the amount of rain, but for the rapid onset and broad geographic footprint. The remarks from the Phobos center, captured on its Telegram channel, provided residents and city services with a timely read on the situation and a basis for adjusting travel plans, street cleaning, and emergency response where needed [Tishkovets, Phobos Meteorological Center].
Within a 24-hour window at Moscow’s reference weather station VDNKh, rainfall reached 18 millimeters, while the Balchug district logged 23 millimeters and Butovo reported 29 millimeters. When these figures are combined across major sites, they represent roughly 55 percent of the typical November total for the capital. That scale of fall is the kind that can overwhelm street drainage and create slick surfaces, especially during the busiest commuting hours. For residents, the number paints a tangible picture: roughly three buckets of rainwater per square meter, a vivid mental image of the flow and spread that drivers and pedestrians encountered as the city adapted. Forecasters noted that such a concentration of rain in a compact period has implications for groundwater, river inflows, and urban water management, and it underscored the variability that can appear within a single month [Tishkovets, Phobos Meteorological Center].
Meanwhile, the Kholm weather station in the Novgorod region recorded about 45 millimeters of rain, a striking local total even as the regional monthly norm lies between 51 and 63 millimeters. The contrast highlights how a single storm can carve out heavy totals in certain pockets while other areas see less dramatic totals. Meteorologists watch these patterns to assess downstream risks for rivers, floods, and stormwater infrastructure across the wider area. The day’s reporting suggests that weather systems can produce concentrated downpours even when regional averages point toward more moderate totals, a reminder of the uneven nature of atmospheric moisture pockets across the landscape [Tishkovets, Phobos Meteorological Center].
A few days earlier, Roman Vilfand, the scientific director of the Center for Hydrometeorology, observed that Moscow began November with unusually warm days. The forecast then pointed to a sharp shift by the coming weekend, with the capital facing snowfall, strong gusts, icy patches, and a rapid drop in temperatures. City officials and forecasters urged residents to plan for changing road conditions and to allow extra time for travel as conditions could turn worse quickly. The shift from mild to wintry air can influence energy demand, public transit operations, and school and work schedules, making readiness the watchword for many households [Vilfand].
Tatyana Pozdnyakova, a senior analyst at the Meteonovosti agency, forecast a mix of rain, snow, and icy patches around November 2. Her briefing suggested that precipitation would be uneven across the city and along routes leading outside Moscow, potentially complicating both urban and rural travel. She advised drivers who have not yet switched to winter tires to exercise heightened caution, especially when venturing beyond the city center and on rural roads where salt and sand coverage may be inconsistent. Observers also highlighted the likelihood of black ice forming on untreated surfaces during colder periods, reinforcing the need for slower speeds and greater alertness during morning or late-evening hours [Pozdnyakova].
Forecasts for the winter season point to a pattern that could include episodic bursts of cold, strong winds, and mixed precipitation, sometimes accompanied by heavy rainfall or snowfall in quick succession. The shared message from forecasters is to stay vigilant, adjust plans when needed, and keep an emergency kit in vehicles and homes as a precaution. While precise details remain uncertain, experts agree that the weather could swing between mild spells and sharper cold snaps, a dynamic that requires flexible preparation and mindful daily routines as the season evolves across the region [Tishkovets; Vilfand; Pozdnyakova].