Abnormal frosts are coming to Moscow: when to expect a severe cold snap
Moscow greeted January with record snowfalls and snowdrifts, but without the "real" lingering cold: according to forecasters, the weather will remain moderately frosty with light snow and ice in the coming days. According to preliminary calculations, a noticeable cooling is possible closer to Epiphany, when the temperature in the capital region may drop to -25...-30 degrees. The day before, the Federal Air Transport Agency warned of possible disruptions in the flight schedule due to heavy snow, and utilities continue to eliminate the effects of Cyclone Frances. All the details are in the Izvestia article.
Why January got out of the usual scenario
Evgeny Tishkovets, a leading specialist at the Phobos Weather Center, said that since the beginning of the year, winter on the Russian Plain has been characterized by heavy snowfalls in the absence of the traditional severe frosts in January. According to him, on January 11, the height of the snow cover at VDNKh reached 37 cm, and snowdrifts up to half a meter high formed in some areas of the Moscow region.
On the morning of January 12, 2026, the snow cover was 43 cm at the VDNKh reference weather station, 45 cm at Baltschug, and 49 cm at Moscow State University. This is important for understanding the next stage of the weather: the higher and denser the snow, the stronger the night cooling during clearings and anticyclonic conditions.
An additional factor was the series of snowfalls brought by the Balkan cyclone Frances. As a result, on January 9, about 21-22 mm of precipitation fell in Moscow per day, which became one of the highest rates in recent decades and close to the absolute daily record in January.
Moscow weather forecast for Tuesday and the coming days
According to the forecast of the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia for Moscow (VDNKh), on Tuesday, January 13, -9...-7 degrees are expected in the afternoon, -10...-8 degrees at night. On Wednesday, January 14th, at night -13...-11, in the afternoon -10...-8.
As we approach the weekend, the minus sign will increase: -20...-15 is forecast for the night of January 17, and -22...-17 for the night of January 18. Precipitation during the week is mostly light, which means not so much the growth of snowdrifts as the compaction of snow and the formation of a roll on roads and sidewalks.
Frosts are still ahead: the weather forecast for Epiphany on January 19
Forecasters agree that winter has not yet said its last word. According to Evgeny Tishkovets' calculations, a noticeable increase in cold weather is possible in the second half of January. So, by January 19, on Epiphany, night temperatures may drop to -20...-25 degrees, and in the following days, under a cooling—friendly scenario— to -25...-30 degrees.
Abnormal frosts can last almost a week. At the same time, the forecaster emphasizes that we are talking about a preliminary forecast, and separately notes that the calculations will be clarified as these dates approach.
Snowfall and its consequences for transport
Heavy snowfalls have already led to serious consequences for transport. On the morning of January 10, 271 flights were delayed at Moscow airports due to bad weather, and 42 more were canceled. The most difficult situation was at Sheremetyevo Airport, where there were problems not only with departures and arrivals, but also with baggage claim.
The Federal Air Transport Agency warned about possible failures in advance. The ministry reported that during the period of intense snowfall, schedule adjustments for both arrival and departure are possible, including flight cancellations, as runways need to be cleared, as well as aircraft treatment with de-icing liquids.
The snowfall affected not only Moscow, but also neighboring regions of Central Russia. On January 9, a multi-kilometer traffic jam formed on the M–8 Yaroslavl - Moscow highway: traffic on the section from 111th to 134th km was limited, drivers stood in a traffic jam for more than eight hours.
In a number of regions, problems with power supply have arisen due to snow buildup and wire breaks. Local outages were recorded in the Vologda Region, as well as in the Tver, Tula, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions. Power engineers and utilities are on high alert, eliminating the effects of snowfall.
Forecasters point out that the greatest risks are associated not only with low temperatures, but also with its combination with the already formed snow cover. While there is a "moderate minus" in the city, the snow is compacting and turning into a roll. With the arrival of more severe frosts, it freezes quickly, forming a stable ice crust.
In such conditions, the risk of injury increases, the work of public utilities becomes more complicated and the load on the transport infrastructure increases. Therefore, experts recommend that residents of the capital closely monitor forecast updates and be prepared for the fact that the second half of January may be much colder and harsher than the first.
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