Climatic form: snow and ice will fall on Central Russia
Moscow is waiting for several days of cold weather, meteorologists told Izvestia. On April 10, snow cover of up to 4 cm may even form in the capital, and there may be ice on the roads. Rain and sleet are expected almost all over Central Russia, with hurricane—force winds in some places. About how long the bad weather will last, why this is a normal situation for April, and what motorists should pay attention to, see the Izvestia article.
Where it will snow and rain
In the coming days, Moscow may find itself under a layer of snow up to 4 cm, Tatyana Pozdnyakova, a leading specialist at the Meteonosti agency, told Izvestia. Rain and gusty winds are also expected.
— Precipitation is expected in Moscow on April 9, and there will be even more precipitation during the day than at night. It is possible that on the morning of Friday, April 10, snow cover will even form in places — it may reach 2-4 cm," she noted.
On Thursday, it will be +2... +3 degrees in the capital, which is five to six degrees below the climatic norm, Alexander Shuvalov, head of the Meteo forecasting center, told Izvestia. However, by the weekend, the air will warm up to +11... +13 degrees.
The weather in the Moscow region will not differ much from the capital, added Tatiana Pozdnyakova. However, the weather there will improve only by the beginning of next week.
— We will be in a wide area of precipitation, which will also affect the Moscow region. In the region, the temperature will return to normal only on April 13," she said.
By Easter, the weather will also improve in the north of Russia, Alexander Shuvalov added. In Arkhangelsk and Vologda, after a short-term cold snap, the air will warm up to +10 degrees. And in St. Petersburg and Veliky Novgorod it will be up to +15 degrees.
— We still have precipitation in the South. The temperature there does not correspond to this time of the year. For example, Sochi may have the same temperature as Arkhangelsk due to rains and cloudy weather," the expert noted.
Heavy rains will occur in North Ossetia and Chechnya, Alexander Shuvalov said. Precipitation will be short-lived in other Russian regions.
Snowstorms in April are the norm for Central Russia, explained Tatiana Pozdnyakova.
— Our average date of snowfall is April 12. Therefore, it should be snowing before that time. Snowfall can occur almost until the last days of the month," she stressed.
The expert added that heavy snowfalls in spring are influenced by southern cyclones.
"The Atlantic cyclone has come to us now, so there won't be much snow," the forecaster explained.
Alexander Shuvalov noted that April should not be considered a warm spring month.
"During this period, we still have very cold northern regions, so any influx of Arctic air results in such inclement weather, causing a sharp drop in temperature and even snowfall," he said.
What should motorists pay attention to?
Forecasters stressed that the wet snow that has fallen in Central Russia forms a mess on the roads. For drivers, this is fraught with congestion and accidents.
— If you find yourself driving on summer tires in the snow, the most sensible thing is to leave the car and get to the place in another way, — Alexey Ivanov, the owner of the Alliance Trucks commercial vehicle dealership network, told Izvestia.
He explained that when the temperature drops below +7 degrees, summer tires lose their elasticity and stop clinging to the road.
— The braking distance from a speed of 100 km/h stretches to 40 m instead of the usual 25-30 on winter tires. On wet snow, the situation is even worse: the car turns into an uncontrollable sleigh," the expert said.
If a trip is unavoidable, a number of strict rules must be followed.
— The speed is no higher than 40-50 km/ h, the distance is three times longer than usual — about 9-12 seconds instead of the usual 2-3. No sudden movements of the steering wheel, braking only by the engine, and the brake pedal is the last thing," said Alexey Ivanov.
Lane changes, overtaking, and any maneuvers should be completely eliminated.
However, with the arrival of steadily warm weather, it is necessary to change the tires to summer tires, added Nikolay Pogulyaev, the owner and head of the Fit Servict car service. According to him, the main difference between a summer and a winter tire is the composition of the rubber compound.
"Winter tires contain a high concentration of silicone and natural rubber, which make them elastic even in severe frost," the expert reminded. — But when the air temperature rises and the asphalt heats up, such rubber becomes too soft. If you use winter tires for another month after the onset of heat, the tread depth decreases so much that you will have to buy a new set by winter. Studded tires are particularly affected — due to the softening of the rubber, the spikes stop holding on and quickly fly out.
In addition, on dry and wet asphalt, a soft tire is an increased risk, Nikolai Pogulyaev added. The treads on winter tires are higher and dissected by lamellae.
— In warm weather, these blocks break down in turns and during sudden maneuvers, which creates the effect of a wobbly steering wheel, when the car reacts worse to steering movement, — he explained. — But most of all, the braking distance affects safety, which increases by 4-6 m on winter tires in warm weather at a speed of 80 km/h. In a critical situation, a tread that is too soft does not provide the necessary grip, instead it seems to "float" along the road.
What is the danger of a change in the weather for people?
There are risks for people when the weather changes. Viruses multiply faster in a humid environment, Andrey Kondrakhin, a therapist and candidate of medical Sciences, reminded Izvestia.
— The weather was warm recently. Many people have already got used to going without a headdress, without a scarf, or warm jackets. As a rule, most people do not adequately assess their capabilities and are in no hurry to warm up," the doctor said.
According to the expert, most often when it gets cold in the spring, people catch colds and flu.
— The immune system is still weak after the winter, so the microorganisms attack us very quickly. But those who were vaccinated against the flu back in the fall have nothing to fear, since the antibodies have been active for a whole year," said Andrei Kondrakhin.
The doctor noted that treatment should be started with early symptoms: severe weakness, decreased appetite, and fever. If you feel very hot and feel very unwell, you should consult a therapist.
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