Moscow records worst January snowfall in 200 years
Moscow, the Russian capital, is experiencing exceptional winter weather and a climate challenge not seen in official records for a long time. Meteorologists at Moscow State University announced that the city witnessed its worst snowfall in over two centuries during the month of January. This rare weather phenomenon resulted from what experts described as "deep and widespread storms" that swept through the Russian capital and its surrounding areas, leading to dramatic changes in the city's urban landscape.
Record numbers surpass 200 years of records
According to data released by the university and published on the social networking site VK, January 29th alone saw 92 millimeters of snowfall, an unprecedented figure in the city's modern history. Scientists confirmed that this is "the highest total snowfall in the last 203 years," placing this winter among the rarest historical events.
Returning to historical records, the university noted that the last time Moscow experienced a similar snowfall was in 1823, during the Russian Empire, when 122 millimeters of snow fell. However, scientists pointed out that "data collected in the distant past may not be entirely reliable" due to the different measuring instruments of that era, making the current figure recorded in 2024 the most accurate and well-documented.
Climatic conditions and the impact of hurricanes
The extreme weather was not limited to heavy snowfall; it was also accompanied by a significant drop in temperatures. The university explained that temperatures were 1.5 degrees Celsius lower than the usual seasonal average for January, which is typically -6.2 degrees Celsius. Experts attribute this phenomenon to the passage of deep low-pressure systems and large-scale polar cyclones centered over the Moscow region, which contributed to the intensified snowfall.
Environmental and logistical impacts
Snow accumulation in the Russian capital has exceeded 60 centimeters, posing a significant challenge to the infrastructure and municipal services of one of Europe's largest capitals. Historically, the second-highest snowfall recorded in modern times occurred in January 2004 with 88.9 millimeters of precipitation, but the current storm has clearly surpassed that figure.
These data indicate changes in the climatic patterns witnessed in the region, as this snow density usually leads to a full mobilization of public services to open roads and secure traffic, in addition to the potential impact on air traffic and public transport, making this year’s winter a real test of the city’s ability to deal with extreme weather phenomena.
