In Europe, a striking cold and snow pattern often cited is centered on Moscow, a city that has faced an unusually severe spell since the weekend. The Russian capital has endured its heaviest snowfall in 145 years, laying a thick white mantle across many districts within twelve hours and depositing as much as 40 centimeters in certain neighborhoods. The deep chill has intensified in parts of Siberia, where temperatures could plunge to 50 degrees below zero. Meteorologist Román Vilfand, via the TASS agency, noted that December 3 saw a snowfall record in over a century, with last Sunday contributing 25 to 30 percent of the month’s total snowfall. [Source: TASS]
As the snow persisted through the night, the disruption grew. Moscow airports reported the cancellation or delay of around 60 flights. City workers and plow crews operated around the clock to clear routes, offering relief to a metropolis of roughly 14 million residents. Enormous piles of snow forced some trucks to come to a stop, while many pedestrians pushed through the drifts in scenes of crowded sidewalks. The snow also strained public transportation, with bus and minibus networks operating well over typical capacity to connect neighborhoods. In certain nearby towns, motorists even chose to push through the weather on motorcycles adapted for winter conditions.
Forecasts suggested a pause in the heaviest precipitation by Monday, yet Moscow would not enter a period of calm. Lows were expected to dip to -23 degrees Celsius by the following weekend, a combination that raises hazards for drivers due to icy road surfaces, limited visibility, and vehicle performance issues. Citizens faced challenges ranging from starting engines to maintaining grip on slick streets.
All of this marked one of the most intense snow events seen in Moscow in recent memory, a weather pattern of the sort that quickly becomes a talking point among residents and observers alike. As the city negotiates this storm, synoptic observations highlight a rare, soft-weather day for the last seventy years, with fresh snow amounts potentially reaching as high as 28 centimeters in some zones. — #moshva #снег #nepogoda on social platforms captured the mood and scale of the event. [Attribution: @kpru]
Siberian cold
Beyond Moscow, Siberia faces the most extreme conditions, with several regions bracing for temperatures from 40 to 50 degrees below zero. In such extreme cold, even gasoline can begin to crystallize, and fuel systems may falter. Krasnoyarsk, located in the heart of Siberia, along with Khabarovsk, are among the most affected areas. Magadan, Yakutia, and Chukotka are also expected to endure the early cold wave, though historically this severity is more typical for late winter than early December.
In this climate, air temperatures become a major hazard, making it perilous to breathe through the nose outdoors. People are advised to cover exposed skin to avoid frostbite, as nose, hair, and mouth can freeze. Electronics are vulnerable too; batteries may fail with sudden power drops, impacting mobile devices, tablets, and other gear. Breathing patterns can produce visible vapors, and the breath may appear to hang briefly in icy air, a reminder of the harsh conditions.