January frosts: the first snowstorm of the calendar winter will hit Moscow tomorrow

The first real snowstorm of the calendar winter will cover Moscow and the Moscow region on Friday, December 12. Rain, snow and strong winds of up to 17 m/s are expected, which will increase the effect of the blizzard and lead to the formation of ice on the roads, so the city has declared a "yellow" danger level. Temperatures will drop sharply to below zero in the evening, and on Saturday night up to 4 cm of snow and a steady cold snap are expected, which will continue at the end of the week with a transition to real January weather. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

The first snowstorm of the calendar winter will hit Moscow on Friday

The first real snowstorm of the calendar winter may begin in Moscow and the Moscow region as early as Friday, December 12. This was reported in the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia, referring to the latest forecast.

Rain and snow are expected on Friday afternoon, with snowstorms possible in some places. The westerly wind will blow at a speed of 6-11 m/s, with gusts up to 17 m/s, which will enhance the effect of the blizzard. The air temperature in Moscow will reach from +3 to +5 degrees in the afternoon, and from +1 to +6 degrees in the Moscow region.

However, by evening the temperature will start to drop: in the capital to -1 degrees, in the region to -3 degrees. Such conditions can lead to the formation of ice on the roads.

On the night of Saturday, December 13, with clouds and light snow, the temperature will drop to -5...-7 degrees in Moscow and from -4 to -9 degrees in the Moscow region. Negative values are also forecast during the daytime hours of Saturday — from -3 to -5 degrees in Moscow and from -7 to -2 degrees in the region. The wind will be from the northwest at a speed of 6-11 m/s, with gusts up to 17 m/s.

Moscow has declared a "yellow" danger level.

A yellow weather hazard level has been declared in Moscow and the Moscow Region due to strong winds, snowstorms and icy conditions.

"On Friday and Saturday, December 12 and 13, a northwesterly wind with gusts up to 17 m/s is forecast in the region, and a snowstorm is expected in some areas on Friday afternoon and evening," the Russian Hydrometeorological Center said.

The yellow level is in effect from noon on Friday to 18:00 Moscow time on Saturday and warns of possible adverse weather conditions.

Forecasters predict a drop in temperature in Moscow over the weekend

The temperature drop will continue until the end of the week, forecasters predict. Temperatures from -7 to -5 degrees are expected in Moscow on Saturday night, and up to -9 degrees in the region.

On Saturday afternoon, the temperature will drop to -3...-5 degrees in the capital and up to -7 degrees in the region. Thus, compared with the first half of Friday, the temperature will drop by at least 10 degrees, Roman Vilfand, scientific director of the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia, told Interfax.

The temperature drop will continue on Sunday and early next week. On December 14, the temperature will range from -5 to -10 degrees at night, during the day it is expected from -6 to -4 degrees in Moscow, and up to -8 degrees in the Moscow region.

On Monday and Tuesday, December 15 and 16, according to Wilfand, the decline will become even more noticeable: at night from -12 to -7 degrees, during the day from -9 to -4 degrees.

"This is the real January weather. Starting from Sunday, the temperature will be 3-4 degrees below normal," he added.

Up to 4 cm of snow may fall in Moscow by Saturday.

About 3-4 cm of snow will fall in Moscow from Friday afternoon to Saturday. Forecasters say that the snowfall will be light, but the snow will linger for a long time. It is indicated that wet snow may stick, heavy ice is forecast on the roads, Roman Vilfand told Interfax.