The Valley is falling: how Moscow is coping with the consequences of a powerful cyclone

Heavy snowfall covered Moscow. According to forecasters, it will be the strongest this winter. More than a hundred flights have been canceled and delayed at the capital's airports, and air harbors are operating in an enhanced mode. The transport Prosecutor's Office is monitoring the situation. How Moscow is coping with the consequences of the snowfall is in the Izvestia article.

Record values

The real snow apocalypse has begun in Moscow. On Thursday, February 19, the Balkan cyclone Valli arrived in the capital, bringing with it a heavy snowfall. According to forecasters, it may break two records at once — the snow cover may be the highest not only for the beginning of this winter, but the highest for February 20.

Marina Makarova, a leading employee of the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia, expects snow in Moscow to fall all day. In total, about 60% of the monthly precipitation rate will fall. The increase in snow cover in such conditions will be up to 25-31 cm.

"Today we have a snow cover height of 43 cm, if we take the maximum, that is, it will be 73 — this is at the record level, which is 64 cm for the 20th, and this was in 2024. Maybe even a record," said Makarova in an interview with TASS.

Evgeny Tishkovets, a leading specialist at the Phobos Weather Center, gives a similar forecast.

"The biggest snowdrifts will grow all winter! A record height of snow cover is possible!" warns Tishkovets in social networks, assuming that the snow cover in Moscow will reach 80 cm.

The forecaster believes that during the day the snowfall, which began in the morning, will only intensify. By the middle of the day, the snow will fall so intensely that it will seem like a solid wall.

The situation will be aggravated by a southeasterly wind with gusts up to 5-10 m/s. A snowstorm will reduce visibility to 1-2 kilometers. At the same time, according to Tishkovets, the frost will soften, allowing the temperature background to return to the climatic channel — during the day, the thermometer will drop to a maximum of 8 degrees.

In turn, Tatyana Pozdnyakova, a leading specialist at the Meteonosti news agency, told Izvestia that the height of the snow cover could increase by about 10 cm per day.

"We are in the zone of the active atmospheric front of the southern cyclone, so heavy snow is forecast for almost the whole day today. Snowstorms and snowdrifts are also expected. 7-15 mm of precipitation may fall in a day, and the height of the snow cover will increase by about 10 cm by the morning of February 20," she said.

The intensity of the snowfall will weaken only on the night of February 20, as the cyclone will gradually shift to the northwest. No significant precipitation is expected in the following days, but light snow is possible.

The situation at airports

Such a heavy snowfall has already had an impact on airport operations. About 140 flights have been canceled or delayed in Moscow's air harbors. The most serious situation was observed at Sheremetyevo Airport, where 18 flights were delayed. At the same time, 15 were unable to arrive at this airport. 53 flights were canceled altogether. Schedule changes were also observed in Vnukovo, where the arrival of 13 flights and departure of 17 were delayed. Passengers could not fly not only to Russian cities, but also to foreign ones. Including Dubai, Ankara, Istanbul and Ferghana. The situation in Domodedovo is better — the departure of one flight has been canceled. The arrival of 6 planes is delayed.

The Moscow Interregional Transport Prosecutor's Office has already taken control of the flight situation. Due to delays and cancellations of flights, she began supervisory measures.

"The Prosecutor's Office is closely monitoring this situation and monitors the observance of the rights of air transport passengers. If there are grounds, prosecutorial response measures will be taken," the supervisory authority said.

Sheremetyevo Airport is currently operating in an enhanced mode, the airport said. Flights are serviced in full, but according to an adjusted schedule. To ensure the safety of passengers, runways, aprons, forecourts and access roads are regularly cleared of ice and snow. More than 90 units of special equipment are involved in the work.

"We recommend that passengers plan their arrival at the airport in advance, taking into account the situation on the roads, and monitor information in the airlines' communication channels: online scoreboard and booking management on the website, mobile application, call center, and chatbot (if available from the airline)," the Sheremetyevo team said in its messenger channel. Max.

According to eyewitnesses, the situation in Vnukovo is also calm at the moment. Delayed flights are gradually appearing in the updated schedule.

It's better to take the subway

By the way, a difficult situation has arisen on the roads of Moscow. Already, traffic jams average up to 7 points. The metropolitan authorities recommend that citizens switch to public transport. Those who do travel by car are asked to be more careful on the roads — it is necessary to strictly follow the rules of the road, speed limit and distance.

The Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development urges not to leave cars along the road and give way to special vehicles. This is necessary so as not to interfere with the clearing of the streets.

Public utilities are operating in an enhanced mode. Since early morning, hundreds of units of snow removal equipment have taken to the streets of the city. Work is underway all over the city. The cleaning of pedestrian zones, sidewalks, approaches to public transport stops, metro stations and the Moscow Central Ring, railway stations and platforms, as well as social facilities is under special control, the press service of the Moscow City Hall emphasizes.