A temperature record set in the Sverdlovsk region on December 21 shows heat levels not seen in the last 143 years. The report comes from URA.RU and highlights a day of unusually warm conditions for a period usually marked by deep winter. The average daily temperature reached +0.8 degrees Celsius, which is +13.7 degrees above the typical December average for the region, marking the warmest December 21 in more than a century. This observation underscores a striking deviation from the long-term climate norm and is being tracked by regional meteorologists as the day progressed. (Source attribution: URA.RU)
Forecast notes from weather forecaster Alexey Pulin indicate that Friday, December 22, brought thawing across the Sverdlovsk region. The warmth expanded outward, lifting snow cover and melting surfaces more rapidly than usual for late December. The pattern suggested by the meteorologists at that time pointed to a temporary breach in winter conditions, with temperatures moderating as the system moved through. (Source attribution: Alexey Pulin, regional forecast discussions)
Looking ahead, the forecasters projected that the warming would ease by the morning of December 23. A return to cooler air was anticipated as a new air mass moved in, potentially leaving behind lingering dampness and residual meltwater from the thaw. While the Sverdlovsk region began to see a transition back toward typical winter conditions, communities were advised to monitor local updates for any shifts in precipitation type or wind patterns that could accompany the cooling. (Source attribution: regional weather services)
In Moscow, a separate forecast issued by Alexander Shuvalov, head of the Meteo forecast center, described a retreat of melting conditions from the capital. The forecast indicated that temperatures would fall on Saturday, with wet snow accompanying the cooling trend. By Sunday, temperatures were expected to sit around 2 to 4 degrees Celsius below zero. Light frost was forecast to persist, with intermittent light snowfall expected on Monday and Wednesday of the following week. The forecast emphasized regional variability, noting that urban heat islands and local weather features can influence the timing and intensity of the cooling and any accompanying precipitation. (Source attribution: Meteo forecast center)
Further north and south, other regional weather alerts appeared in media coverage, including warnings linked to storm activity in the Kuban region. The notices signaled heightened caution for travel, property, and infrastructure as weather systems interact with the broader winter pattern across the country. Observers in Canada and the United States may see parallels in how extreme cold and warmth can shift through regional weather patterns, with melt events in one area potentially coinciding with other climate signals across North America. (Source attribution: regional weather briefings)
Experts often connect such dramatic temperature fluctuations to air mass movements, jet stream positioning, and seasonal trends that can diverge from historical averages. For residents and travelers in North America, the events in Russia serve as a reminder that winter weather can be volatile and that persistent warm spells, followed by rapid cooling, are characteristic of large-scale atmospheric variability. Ongoing monitoring and timely, location-specific forecasts help communities prepare for rapid changes, from road conditions to utility demand. (Source attribution: meteorological analyses and regional forecasts)
In summary, December produced an unexpected warmth in the Sverdlovsk region, with a notable temperature anomaly on December 21. Forecasters warned of a transition back toward cold by December 23, while Moscow anticipated a cooling trend through the weekend. The broader story includes warnings in the Kuban and underscores the complex, dynamic nature of winter weather across Russia, a pattern that resonates with weather observers in Canada and the United States as they watch for similar signatures in their own regions. (Source attribution: URA.RU, Meteo forecast center, regional briefings)