Climate of Moscow

Moscow has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with warm, sometimes hot, somewhat humid summers and long, cold winters. Typical high temperatures in the warm months of June, July and August are around 23 °C (73 °F), but during heat waves, which can occur anytime from May to September, daytime temperature highs often top 30 °C (86 °F) for sometimes one or two weeks. In the winter, temperatures normally drop to approximately −10 °C (14 °F), though there can be periods of warmth with temperatures rising above 0 °C (32 °F). Summer lasts from mid-May to the beginning of September. Winter lasts from the beginning of November to the end of March.

Humid continental climate worldwide
Moscow
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
46
 
 
−4
−9
 
 
36
 
 
−3
−10
 
 
33
 
 
3
−4
 
 
38
 
 
11
3
 
 
52
 
 
19
8
 
 
84
 
 
22
12
 
 
90
 
 
24
15
 
 
80
 
 
22
13
 
 
67
 
 
16
8
 
 
66
 
 
9
3
 
 
60
 
 
1
−3
 
 
53
 
 
−3
−7
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

Monthly averages and records for Moscow
Location of the VVC weather station on the map of Moscow

The highest temperature ever recorded was 38.2 °C (100.8 °F) on July 29, 2010, and minimum temperature recorded was −42 °C (−44 °F).[1] In 2007 three record highs for the month occurred – January +8.6 °C (47.5 °F), March +17.5 °C (63.5 °F), and May 33.2 °C (91.8 °F); in 2008, there were new record highs for December and the entire winter: +9.6 °C (49.3 °F). On July 23, 2010, the temperature reached 36.7 °C (98.1 °F)[2] and continued to set record highs each following day until it finally reached 38.2 °C (100.8 °F) on July 29, 2010. In November 2010 a new month record high of +14.5 °C (58.1 °F) occurred (after +12.6 in 1927).

Maximum temperature in Moscow and near regions during 2010 Northern Hemisphere summer heat wave

Average annual temperature in Moscow is 5.8 °C (42.4 °F), but recently (2007, 2008, 2015) it has been higher than 7 °C (45 °F).[3] In the first half of the 20th century, there was light night frost in late summer.[4] 2019 become the warmest in the history of meteorological observations, the average annual temperature was 7.8 °C (46.0 °F), the average daily maximum was 11.5 °C (52.7 °F) (while the monthly averages temperatures were above 0 °C (32 °F) even in March, November and December).[5]

Monthly rainfall totals vary minimally throughout the year, although the precipitation levels tend to be higher during the summer than during the winter. Due to the significant variation in temperature between the winter and summer months as well as the limited fluctuation in precipitation levels during the summer, Moscow is considered to be within a continental climate zone.

Most of records and averages are given for VVC weather station, located in the North-Eastern administrative okrug of Moscow. The temperature from this station averages 0.5–1 C° lower than in the city center, and 0.5–2 C° higher than night minimums in the suburbs.[6]

Climate data for Moscow (last decade, September 2006 – August 2016, VVC)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −5.5
(22.1)		 −3.5
(25.7)		 3.2
(37.8)		 11.6
(52.9)		 20.1
(68.2)		 22.7
(72.9)		 25.8
(78.4)		 23.7
(74.7)		 16.5
(61.7)		 8.6
(47.5)		 2.6
(36.7)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 10.4
(50.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −7.4
(18.7)		 −5.8
(21.6)		 −0.1
(31.8)		 7.1
(44.8)		 14.7
(58.5)		 17.7
(63.9)		 20.6
(69.1)		 18.8
(65.8)		 12.6
(54.7)		 6.1
(43.0)		 1.1
(34.0)		 −3.6
(25.5)		 6.9
(44.4)
Average low °C (°F) −9.2
(15.4)		 −8.1
(17.4)		 −3.5
(25.7)		 2.5
(36.5)		 9.4
(48.9)		 12.6
(54.7)		 15.4
(59.7)		 13.9
(57.0)		 8.7
(47.7)		 3.7
(38.7)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 −4.6
(23.7)		 3.4
(38.1)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 37 65 142 213 274 299 323 242 171 88 33 14 1,901
Source: weatheronline.co.uk[7]
Year of Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Year of Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high (max t°C) 2007 1989 2014 2012 2007 1901 2010 2010 1890 1915 2013 2008 2010 high avg t°C 2020 1990 2007 2000 1979 1999 2010 2010 1847 1967 2013 2006 2019
Record low (min t°C) 1940 1929 1913 1879 1885 1916 1886 1885 1881 1960 1890 1940 1940 low avg t°C 1893 1929 1860 1929 1918 1904 1904 1884 1993 1976 1844 1788 1862
Climate data for Moscow (VVC) normals 1981–2010, records 1879 – the present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8.6
(47.5)		 8.3
(46.9)		 19.7
(67.5)		 28.9
(84.0)		 33.2
(91.8)		 34.9
(94.8)		 38.2
(100.8)		 37.3
(99.1)		 32.3
(90.1)		 24.0
(75.2)		 16.2
(61.2)		 9.6
(49.3)		 38.2
(100.8)
Average high °C (°F) −4
(25)		 −3.7
(25.3)		 2.6
(36.7)		 11.3
(52.3)		 18.6
(65.5)		 22.0
(71.6)		 24.3
(75.7)		 21.9
(71.4)		 15.7
(60.3)		 8.7
(47.7)		 0.9
(33.6)		 −3
(27)		 9.6
(49.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.5
(20.3)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −1
(30)		 6.7
(44.1)		 13.2
(55.8)		 17.0
(62.6)		 19.2
(66.6)		 17.0
(62.6)		 11.3
(52.3)		 5.6
(42.1)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 −5.2
(22.6)		 5.8
(42.4)
Average low °C (°F) −9.1
(15.6)		 −9.8
(14.4)		 −4.4
(24.1)		 2.2
(36.0)		 7.7
(45.9)		 12.1
(53.8)		 14.4
(57.9)		 12.5
(54.5)		 7.4
(45.3)		 2.7
(36.9)		 −3.3
(26.1)		 −7.6
(18.3)		 2.1
(35.8)
Record low °C (°F) −42.1
(−43.8)		 −38.2
(−36.8)		 −32.4
(−26.3)		 −21
(−6)		 −7.5
(18.5)		 −2.3
(27.9)		 1.3
(34.3)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 −8.5
(16.7)		 −16.1
(3.0)		 −32.8
(−27.0)		 −38.8
(−37.8)		 −42.1
(−43.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 52
(2.0)		 41
(1.6)		 35
(1.4)		 37
(1.5)		 49
(1.9)		 80
(3.1)		 85
(3.3)		 82
(3.2)		 68
(2.7)		 71
(2.8)		 55
(2.2)		 52
(2.0)		 707
(27.7)
Average rainy days 0.8 0.7 3 9 13 14 15 15 15 12 6 2 105.5
Average snowy days 18 15 9 1 0.1 0 0 0 0.1 2 10 17 72.2
Average relative humidity (%) 83 80 74 67 64 70 74 77 81 81 84 85 77
Mean monthly sunshine hours 33 72 128 170 265 279 271 238 147 78 32 18 1,731
Percent possible sunshine 14 27 35 40 53 53 52 51 38 24 13 8 34
Average ultraviolet index 0 1 2 3 5 6 6 5 3 1 1 0 3
Source: thermograph.ru[8], pogoda.ru.net[9] [10], meteoweb.ru[11] and Weather Atlas[12]
Climate data for Moscow, records since 1948 (VVC weather st. only)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8.6
(47.5)		 8.3
(46.9)		 19.7
(67.5)		 28.9
(84.0)		 33.2
(91.8)		 33.9
(93.0)		 38.2
(100.8)		 37.3
(99.1)		 29.4
(84.9)		 23.7
(74.7)		 14.5
(58.1)		 9.6
(49.3)		 38.2
(100.8)
Record low °C (°F) −38.1
(−36.6)		 −35.2
(−31.4)		 −27.9
(−18.2)		 −18.8
(−1.8)		 −5.0
(23.0)		 0.8
(33.4)		 5.1
(41.2)		 2.1
(35.8)		 −5.2
(22.6)		 −16.1
(3.0)		 −23.3
(−9.9)		 −38.0
(−36.4)		 −38.1
(−36.6)
Source: [13][14][15]

Type of precipitation
Annual course of temperature at All-Russia Exhibition Centre

Most precipitation in Moscow falls as rain, but in winter months almost all precipitation falls as snow, forming firm snow cover. The last wet snow precipitation may be in the beginning of May, and it may restart at the end of September.

Type of precipitation Jan (days) Feb (days) Mar (days) Apr (days) May (days) Jun (days) Jul (days) Aug (days) Sep (days) Oct (days) Nov (days) Dec (days) year (days)
snow 20 16 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 10 18 79
mixed 5 4 6 5 1 0 0 0 1 4 8 7 41
rain 1 1 3 10 12 14 14 14 15 12 6 2 103

Snow cover

Snow cover (averaging 3–5 months per year) forms at the beginning of November and melts in early April, although in recent years has not lasted as long as usual. For example, in the winter of 2006–2007 the snow cover didn't form until the end of January, and melted at the beginning of March; in 2007–2008, the snow cover melted at the end of February, and in the 2008–2009 winter, snow cover didn't form until the end of December, which is one month later than usual. Yet in 2011–2012 it melted in the middle of April.

month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
number of days 31 28 28 4 - - - - - 3 16 28
height (cm) 26 35 29 2 - - - - - - 3 13
max.height (cm) 63 72 78 61 - - - - - 19 25 45

Wind

Speed of wind

The average wind speed is very high. In the city it is near 5 metres per second; in open places and airports it may top 6 metres per second.

Wind Storms and Tornadoes

A few times per season, often in the May–September period during thunderstorms, wind speed may exceed 15–35 metres per second. The last powerful wind storm was in 1998, when wind speed was 30–35 metres per second. 157 persons were injured, 8 died, and 2157 buildings were damaged.[16]

Tornadoes were recorded in 1904 and 1945 in Moscow and in 1970, 1971, the 1984 Yaroslavl tornado, 1987, 1994, and 1997 in Moscow Oblast 100 km south-east from Moscow (near Zaraysk), in 2005 in Dubna, and on 3 August 2007 in Krasnogorsk.[17]

In the 3 June 2009 tornado, F3[18] registered near Sergiyev Posad, Moscow oblast.[19][20][21]

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec year
2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.2 2.1 1.9 1.8 2.0 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.3

Сloudiness and day light
Church of the Theotokos of Blachernae in Kuzminki at dawn (03:11 UTC+4, 26 June 2013)

Number of clear, cloudy and overcast days

On average Moscow has 1731 hours of sunshine in a year.[22] In 2004–2008, near 1800–2000 hours.[23]

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec year
Clear (sunshine) 8 9 10 8 11 7 8 10 8 5 3 4 82
Partial sunshine 11 10 13 17 16 20 20 17 16 13 9 10 184
Cloudy (overcast) 12 9 9 5 4 3 4 4 6 12 18 17 98

Daylight, average number of hours/day

Duration of daylight depends on geographical position of Moscow. It varies from 7 hours 00 minutes on December 22 to 17 hours 34 minutes on June 22. The maximum height of the sun above the horizon is 11° on 22 December and 58° on 22 June.

Near the day of the summer solstice (June 22), the sun does not fall below −12°. Thus the astronomical twilight does not occur in this period. Nevertheless, lighting of the navigational twilight is not enough for normal human activity, so the streets need artificial illumination, and it is believed that there are no so-called white nights in Moscow, although the sky remains dark blue, and not black, as, for example, in southern Russia.

Hours Jan (hours) Feb (hours) Mar (hours) Apr (hours) May (hours) Jun (hours) Jul (hours) Aug (hours) Sep (hours) Oct (hours) Nov (hours) Dec (hours)
Day 7.9 9.7 11.9 14.3 16.3 17.4 16.8 14.9 12.7 10.5 8.4 7.2
Night 16.1 14.3 12.1 9.7 7.7 6.6 7.2 9.1 11.3 13.5 15.6 16.8

See also

References
  1. "Moscow, Russia". Weatherbase.
  2. "Air temperatures in Moscow beat all records". Archived from the original on 2010-07-28. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  3. "Pogoda.ru.net (data), see article "Средняя (average)"" (in Russian). Retrieved January 8, 2009.
  4. "Pogoda.ru.net (data), see article "Минимум (minimum)"" (in Russian). Retrieved January 8, 2009.
  5. Средние месячные и годовые температуры воздуха в Москве
  6. "Data from weather stations of Moscow region in real time" (in Russian). Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  7. "weatheronline.co.uk". Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  8. "Thermograph.ru averages". Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  9. "Pogoda & Climate (Weather & Climate)" (in Russian). Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  10. "Climate monitor 2005-2011" (in Russian). Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  11. "Average monthly Sunshine hours" (in Russian). Meteoweb.ru. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  12. d.o.o, Yu Media Group. "Moscow, Russia - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
  13. "2008 was the warmest year in Moscow history (in Russian)". Retrieved 2009-02-05.
  14. "Pogoda.ru.net" (in Russian). Retrieved January 8, 2009.
  15. "August high" (in Russian). Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  16. "Hurricanes in regions of Russia 1998-2007" (in Russian). 10 July 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
  17. http://www.meteoweb.ru/uragan002.php
  18. http://essl.org/ESWD/ Краснозаводск / Krasnozavodsk Moskva fylke Tornado intensity: F3 T6
  19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfH7C0c2_Mg&feature%20=player_embedded
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-01-15. Retrieved 2017-02-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-01-15. Retrieved 2017-02-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. "2008 was the warmest year in Moscow history (in Russian)". Retrieved 2009-02-05.
  23. "Sunshine hours in 2007 (in Russian)". Retrieved 2009-02-21.

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