On January 19, Moscow is forecast to experience a mix of cloud cover and clear spells, with temperatures dipping to roughly minus five degrees Celsius. In discussing the forecast, Alina Kotilevskaya, a leading expert at the Phobos meteorological center, provided insights through RIA News. The overarching message from forecasters is that the capital should not expect heavy rainfall on Friday, which helps residents plan commutes and outdoor activities with greater confidence.
Meteorologists do expect some short-term snowfall to occur, primarily in the southeast portion of the region. In Moscow itself, temperatures are projected to range from minus three to minus five degrees Celsius, while surrounding areas could see readings from minus three to minus eight degrees. The forecast points to this narrow temperature band as a common pattern during crisp mid-winter days in the area, where a shallow cold layer sits over a relatively drier air mass, allowing brief snowfall bursts to form and melt quickly as colder air interacts with moistened ground and city infrastructure.
Winds are anticipated to come from the west at speeds between three and eight meters per second, which, combined with the cold air, can produce a wind chill that makes the air feel several degrees colder than the thermometer reads. Atmospheric pressure is expected to rise to about 742 millimeters of mercury, a level below the standard average, which can influence the sensation of cold and the feel of weather changes for residents moving through urban spaces and rural routes alike.
There was a note that an official from the traffic police indicated he was on the territory of Tatarstan the day prior, a reminder of how weather districts differ and how local conditions can affect roadway safety, traffic flow, and travel times. In heavy weather, road use tends to slow across many transport modes, including cars, buses, and freight corridors, as authorities advise extra caution and allow for longer stops to ensure safe passage along major highways such as the M-12 East corridor.
Earlier reports from Anzhero-Sudzhensk described a weather event that drew eyewitness photographs and video, capturing a dramatic display of thunder and lightning. On the night of January 14, a thunderstorm front swept through the Kemerovo region, yielding striking meteorological footage and rising curiosity about how such storms form in winter when atmospheric stability challenges arise. Residents reported vivid lightning strikes and the accompanying thunder, a phenomenon that underscores the variability of winter weather even in regions where sustained cold is common and often expected.
In another part of the Far East, Kamchatka experienced a different kind of winter moment as a riverbed that had swollen due to frost became a notable feature of local weather patterns. Such occurrences remind observers that frost and ice dynamics can reshape landscapes, influence water flow, and create hazards for shoreline communities and transport routes. While these signals may seem geographically distant from Moscow’s forecast, they contribute to a broader understanding of seasonal shifts and the regional diversity of winter meteorology across Russia and adjacent areas. [Source: Phobos meteorological center]