"Snow apocalypse" in the capital: roads and airports in Moscow are paralyzed due to the cyclone

On the night of January 27, heavy snowfall hit Moscow, which brought about 9 mm of precipitation in the first hours. Traffic jams have formed on the roads, and Sheremetyevo Airport has temporarily suspended the reception of flights. Experts warn drivers and residents of the Moscow region about the need to be careful and plan trips taking into account weather conditions. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

Heavy snowfall in Moscow on January 27

On the night of January 26-27, heavy snowfall hit the Russian capital, which, according to forecasters, brought about 9 mm of precipitation overnight. The Hydrometeorological Center predicts that between January 27 and January 29, about 30-35 mm of precipitation will fall in Moscow and the region, with an increase in snow of 39-46 cm.

In the coming days, Moscow and the Moscow region will find themselves on the southern periphery of an anticyclone strengthening from the north. Atmospheric pressure will increase, clouds will dissipate in places, snowfall is expected. According to forecasts of the Hydrometeorological Center, frosts will also return to the capital. On Friday, January 30, the temperature will drop to -20 degrees.

Difficulties were recorded on the MKAD in the area of the Volokolamsk and Besedinsky highways due to the towing of trucks, the Moscow Department of Transport reported. Traffic jams also formed on the inside of the ring road in the area of the Volokolamsk highway.

According to the Traffic Management Center (TSODD), the congestion level of the capital's highways has reached seven points, while the Yandex Traffic service estimates congestion at nine points. Traffic difficulties were observed on Leningradskoye Highway towards the center, on the TTK in the area of Sushchevsky Val Street, as well as on the outer ring of the MKAD in the area of Leningradskoye Highway.

The Department of Transport stressed that reducing the number of cars on the roads will speed up the work of public utilities to remove snow and clear trails.

Airport restrictions on January 27

Sheremetyevo Airport temporarily suspended the reception of flights due to adverse weather conditions from 09:00 to 12:00 Moscow time, the airport's press service reported on the official Telegram channel.

Airlines are adjusting their flight schedules in this regard. Passengers can check up-to-date information about the status of flights through the contact centers and official communication channels of the airlines and the airport itself. The airport promised to regularly update information on the situation as new data becomes available.

Vnukovo International Airport is operating normally, the airport's press service reported on the Telegram channel. To ensure flight safety, airport services clean and treat runways, taxiways, aprons and aircraft with deicing agents. Minor flight delays are possible. It is recommended to check the flight status in advance on the website or by calling the help desk, as well as plan the arrival time taking into account the traffic situation.

Restrictions for drivers January 27-28

Motorists in Moscow and the Moscow region were warned about the need to abandon trips by private transport on January 27 and 28 due to heavy snowfall. This was announced on Monday, January 26, by the press service of the Moscow Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development. The agency recommends building routes using the metro, MCC and MCD.

Truck drivers were advised to plan their route in advance, taking into account weather conditions, not to overload vehicles and take into account areas with steep climbs where difficulties may arise.

In the Moscow region, road services went on high alert. Residents of the region were also urged to refrain from traveling unnecessarily.

Causes of snowfall in Moscow on January 27

Heavy snowfall in the Moscow region at the end of January is explained by the sharp difference between the air masses, said Roman Vilfand, scientific director of the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia, on January 27.

According to him, at night the temperature in Moscow dropped to -20 degrees, in some places it reached -25...-26 degrees, and in the daytime it remained at -10...-12 degrees, in some places up to -15 degrees. Such a difference between the cold mass that was above the capital and the incoming warm atmosphere created a strong frontal section.

"The greater the contrast between masses with different physical properties, the faster the air rises from the surface into the upper atmosphere, which causes prolonged and intense precipitation," explained Wilfand.

He added that air currents are constantly moving along the wedge of the warm front. When they rise, they cool down, water vapor condenses and turns into snow in winter. The slow movement of the front ensures the constant supply of precipitation with moisture, which is why the snowfall persisted for a long time.

What will the weather be like in Moscow until the end of January

According to Tatyana Pozdnyakova, a leading specialist at the Meteonosti agency, a sharp change in the weather is predicted in the capital region at the end of the working week: light frosts will give way to snowfall and blizzards. On the evening of January 27, an active atmospheric front will cover Moscow and maintain its influence throughout January 28, causing snow drifts and difficult road conditions.

The temperature these days will be below the climatic norm. -10... -12 degrees is expected at night on January 27, and -4... -6 degrees in the afternoon. On Wednesday night, precipitation will remain, but the wind will begin to subside, and daytime temperatures will remain in the range of -4... -6 degrees.

By the end of the week, the snowfall will become local and less intense, but the frost will increase: on Friday night, the thermometer will show -10... -15 degrees, and in the afternoon the temperature will remain within the same limits. Similar frosty weather will continue on Saturday.

Cyclone Frances hit Moscow on January 9th

On Tuesday, January 9, Moscow and the region were hit by the powerful Balkan cyclone Frances. A severe snowstorm was accompanied by wind gusts up to 15-18 m/s and a sharp drop in temperature, which led to the formation of snow drifts and ice on the roads.

Due to the cyclone, up to 33 mm of precipitation fell in the capital region, which is about 63% of the monthly norm. The height of the snow cover increased by almost one and a half times, which was a record for January in the entire history of observations.

Precipitation was particularly heavy in the south and south-east of the Moscow region: Kashira — 26 mm (65% of the monthly norm), Cherusti and Kolomna — 21 mm, Mikhailovskoye - 20 mm, Pavlovsky Posad — 19 mm.

The air temperature in the capital ranged from -9 to -11 degrees during the day, dropping to -11 degrees at night. In some places, the frost reached -13 degrees in the Moscow region. The north-easterly wind was blowing at a speed of 6-11 m/s, in places gusts reached 18 m/s. Atmospheric pressure was maintained at 734-738 mmHg.

In the Moscow region, more than 28.7 thousand workers and over 9.5 thousand pieces of equipment were involved in eliminating the effects of the cyclone.

Bad weather has already affected the operation of airports. At Sheremetyevo, maintenance was carried out normally, at Domodedovo there were minor adjustments due to runway cleaning. Departing planes were treated for icing, and two aircraft were redirected to alternate airfields.

This snowfall in Moscow has become one of the five strongest in 146 years of meteorological observations.