The last heat wave: the regions of Russia are waiting for abnormal heat, heavy rains and snow

In early August, Moscow faced one of the most noticeable heat waves since the beginning of the year. The air temperature in the capital has approached +31 degrees, and on August 7, forecasters expect a possible update to the annual maximum. The reason for the abnormal warming was a stable anticyclone, which kept dry and warmed air over the region. However, in the coming days, the heat will begin to recede, replaced by cooler air masses, and the temperature will gradually return to the values typical for the second half of August. Why Moscow was at the mercy of high temperatures, what records were set in the regions and what to expect from the weather until the end of summer — in the Izvestia article.

Moscow is preparing for a new temperature record

Moscow has experienced the longest heat wave since the beginning of summer: the air temperature in the capital has risen to values close to the annual maximum. On Thursday, August 6, at the VDNKh base weather station, the air warmed up to +30.7 degrees, thereby repeating the 2026 temperature record set on August 2. This was announced by Mikhail Leus, a leading specialist at the Phobos Weather Center.

According to the forecaster, for a long time the maximum temperature of the year remained for the spring period. July was only able to repeat the May figure, but in early August, summer became the leader in heat for the first time. On August 2, the thermometer reached +30.7 degrees, which was the highest value since the beginning of the year.

On August 6, it was not possible to update this indicator, the temperature at the VDNKh weather station reached the same value, repeating the previously set record.

The next attempt to exceed the maximum temperature is expected on Friday, August 7. According to Mikhail Leus's forecast, before the approach of the cold atmospheric front, the air in Moscow will have time to warm up to +30 ...+32 degrees.

The forecaster clarified that during heat waves, the hottest day often falls on their final stage. Therefore, Friday is likely to be the last opportunity for summer to set a new temperature record in 2026. After passing through the cold front, the probability of a further temperature increase will decrease significantly.

Why is Moscow at the mercy of high temperatures

The reason for the heat wave in Moscow was the synoptic situation over the European part of Russia with the influence of an area of high pressure. According to meteorologists, during the period of abnormal warming, anticyclones play a key role — large atmospheric formations that prevent the change of air masses and contribute to the long-term preservation of clear and dry weather.

An anticyclone can be compared to an atmospheric "lid": it blocks the penetration of cooler and wetter air from the Atlantic and keeps warm air masses over the region. As a result, cyclones with precipitation and a decrease in temperature cannot quickly move into the high-pressure zone, and the air continues to warm up under the influence of solar radiation.

This season, a similar mechanism has caused intense heat in several regions of Russia at once. Earlier, forecasters reported on the impact of a powerful blocking anticyclone on the Urals, the Volga region and part of Siberia: it contributed to the flow of dry and hot air from the regions of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Due to the stability of the atmospheric process, high temperatures persisted for a long time.

According to experts, against the background of a general increase in the temperature background, such synoptic situations are becoming more pronounced. If in previous decades similar conditions could lead to values of about +36...+38 degrees, then in recent years they can cause more extreme indicators.

In addition, meteorologists pay attention to the impact of global climate processes. One of the factors that can affect the nature of weather conditions is considered to be the El Nino phenomenon - periodic warming of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can affect the distribution of atmospheric currents and temperature anomalies in different regions of the world.

What awaits Moscow at the end of summer

After the abnormally warm weather in early August, a noticeable decrease in temperature is expected in Moscow. According to the forecast of Yandex.Weather conditions", after the heat peak on August 7, when the air in the capital can warm up to +30...+32 degrees, a cooler air mass will come to the city.

On the weekend of August 8th and 9th, the daytime temperature will not exceed +22 degrees, and at night it will drop to +12 degrees. The decrease will be accompanied by an increase in westerly and northwesterly winds with a speed of up to 4-4.5 m/s.

The weather in Moscow will remain moderately cool in mid-August. From August 10 to August 16, daytime temperatures will stay around +22 degrees, and nighttime temperatures will be around +12...+13 degrees. Humidity during this period will be 75-77%, atmospheric pressure will remain stable — about 744-745 mmHg.

By the end of the month, a further decrease in temperature is predicted: around +20 degrees during the day and up to +10 degrees at night.

How the weather is changing in the regions of Russia

While Moscow remains in the grip of heat in early August, the weather situation in other regions of Russia is developing according to a more diverse scenario. On August 7, dry and hot weather will continue in the south of the European part of the country. In the Rostov region, the air temperature will rise to +40 degrees, in Krasnodar and Astrakhan — up to +36, in Lugansk — up to +37, and in Sevastopol — up to +33. In Sochi, it is expected to be around +31 degrees.

High temperatures will remain in a number of regions of the Volga region and the Black Earth region. In Samara, the air will warm up to +31, in Kursk and Bryansk — up to +34, in Kaluga — up to +32, and in Nizhny Novgorod — up to +31.

At the same time, a cold atmospheric front is gradually approaching the European part of Russia, which will bring with it a change in the weather: forecasters predict showers, thunderstorms, increased winds and hail in places. In the north-west of the country, the temperature will be noticeably lower. In Kaliningrad, it is expected to be around +22 degrees, in Pskov — +25, in Petrozavodsk — +22, in Murmansk — about +16.

On August 7, mostly warm and dry weather will remain in the Urals, but cyclones will form near the region, capable of causing local storm events. In Yekaterinburg, the temperature will be about +23 degrees, in Omsk — +21, in Barnaul - +26, in Kemerovo — +25.

The situation in the Far East will also change. The influence of the Okhotsk cyclone will lead to a cooling and an increase in precipitation in some areas. In Khabarovsk, it is expected to be around +19 degrees, in Blagoveshchensk — +22, in Vladivostok — +26.

In St. Petersburg, around +22 degrees and short-term rains are forecast for this day.

At the same time, forecasters note that already in early autumn, sudden temperature changes are possible in some regions of the country. In the coastal regions of the Far East — in Primorye, Khabarovsk Territory, Sakhalin and Kamchatka — the first snowfall is possible in September due to the invasion of Pacific cyclones, which will bring heavy precipitation, gale force winds and a noticeable cold snap.

In the northern regions of Karelia, Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions, the first night frosts are also possible in the second half of September. Thus, while the central part of Russia is experiencing the last days of summer heat, the northern and eastern regions are already beginning to prepare for the transition to autumn weather.

What temperature records were broken in Russia in 2026

The heat wave in late July and early August covered a significant part of Russia, from the Volga region and the Urals to Western Siberia. In a number of regions, high temperatures not only exceeded the climatic norm, but also led to the renewal of long-term records.

In the Urals, one of the most notable temperature events was the heat surge in Yekaterinburg. On July 27, the air in the city warmed up to +35 degrees, exceeding the previous record for this date of +34.5 degrees, which had been maintained since 1952. In the Perm Region, the temperature reached +32.8 degrees, which made it possible to update the indicator set in 1971.

Intense heat was also observed in the Volga region. At the end of July 2026, in the Samara, Saratov, Volgograd and Orenburg regions, the air temperature rose to +40 degrees. Such values became significantly higher than usual for this period and were accompanied by warnings from forecasters about adverse weather conditions.

Unusually high temperatures were also recorded in Siberia. In Norilsk, the thermometer rose above +30 degrees — such indicators are rare for a city beyond the Arctic Circle. In the Novosibirsk region, a storm warning regime has been maintained since the beginning of summer due to the dangerous heat: it was canceled only for a short period in July. In the Krasnoyarsk Territory and Evenkia, the air temperature reached +30 on some days...+35 degrees.

According to experts, the scale and duration of the current heat wave are associated with a stable anticyclonic process that prevented the entry of cooler air masses and contributed to the long-term preservation of high temperatures in several regions of the country.

How to survive high temperatures in Moscow

The heat wave in Moscow can become a serious strain on the body, especially for children, the elderly and residents with chronic diseases. For them, high fever can cause deterioration of well-being and exacerbation of chronic conditions. Doctors and safety experts warn that prolonged exposure to high temperatures increases the risk of overheating, dehydration, and heat stroke.

Thermal overheating of the body is one of the main dangers in hot weather. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause body temperature to rise, which in severe cases leads to heat stroke and disruption of the cardiovascular system. The main signs of overheating include: weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, palpitations, impaired coordination, and loss of consciousness.

To reduce the stress on the body, experts recommend limiting exposure to direct sunlight during the hottest hours, from about 11:00 to 17:00. During this period, it is better to choose shaded places, avoid intense physical exertion and, if possible, postpone active activities to the morning or evening.

Special attention should be paid to the drinking regime in the heat. Rospotrebnadzor recommends maintaining adequate fluid intake: preference should be given to water, including mineral water, and unsweetened beverages. At the same time, people with kidney and cardiovascular diseases should increase their fluid volume only after consulting a doctor.

To protect against overheating, experts recommend choosing light clothing made of natural fabrics, using hats and covering the skin from direct sun exposure. It is also recommended to keep the rooms cool, ventilate the rooms regularly and, if possible, use air conditioners or other air cooling methods.

If signs of heat stroke appear, it is necessary to move the person to a cool place as soon as possible, provide air access, and help cool the body. If your condition worsens, you should seek medical help. The specialists of the Ministry of Emergency Situations also remind that during a period of intense heat, the risk of wildfires increases, so it is important to be careful when camping.