The scientific director of the Russian Hydrometeorological Center notes that this week the climate typical of February has settled over the central European part of Russia, with some regions reporting sharper frosts. As holidays approach, the capital is expected to see milder, warmer conditions that are likely to persist through the weekend.
Current observations show air temperatures across Central Russia, including Moscow, running 3–4 degrees below long-term norms. Yet changes in atmospheric circulation are forecast to begin tomorrow. The center identifies the region as a zone where opposing air masses meet: an eastern anticyclone and a western cyclone, creating a tug of war that shapes the weather in European Russia.
Forecasts indicate a night-time drop to about minus 7 to minus 9 degrees Celsius, with daytime temperatures around minus 1 to minus 3 degrees, potentially reaching minus 6 degrees in some areas. A marked temperature rise is expected from Thursday, when night temperatures may fall to minus 2 to minus 4 degrees and daytime readings could climb to zero to plus 2 degrees, driven by air arriving from the Atlantic region.
Experts predict very mild conditions in Moscow on Friday, February 23, with overnight temperatures near 0 and daytime highs around plus 4 degrees. This spell of warmth is anticipated to extend through the weekend, bringing a noticeable improvement in the capital’s weather as the period progresses.
Forecasters remind residents that the early start to spring in Moscow is a possibility, with forecasts suggesting no frost in the capital toward the end of winter as warming proceeds gradually.
There are warnings about potential testing conditions this spring as floods remain a concern in some areas. The seasonal shift will bring attention to how warming, precipitation, and river flows interact, requiring careful monitoring and preparedness across the region.