Moscow and the surrounding Moscow region face heavy rain, strong winds, and cooler weather during the City Day holiday weekend of September 5 and 6, according to the Hydrometeorological Centre of Russia.
Marina Makarova, a leading specialist at the national weather service, told Russian news agency TASS that a cyclone centred north of Moscow will push atmospheric fronts across the metropolis throughout the two-day celebration.
Moscow City Day is an annual municipal holiday celebrated on the first weekend of September to mark the founding of the Russian capital. The festivities typically bring large crowds into city parks, pedestrian zones, and public squares for outdoor concerts and cultural events. The Hydrometeorological Centre of Russia, based in the capital, is the principal state organization responsible for meteorological monitoring and weather forecasting across the country.
Saturday weather forecast for Moscow
Weather conditions across Moscow on Saturday, September 5, will be cloudy with clear intervals. Rain is expected during the night, with heavy downpours hitting parts of the surrounding Moscow region. Daytime conditions will be marked by strong winds.
Overnight temperatures in Moscow will fall to between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius, while temperatures in outer areas of the Moscow region will drop to between 9 and 12 degrees. Daytime highs in the capital will not exceed 17 to 19 degrees Celsius, while regional temperatures will range between 15 and 20 degrees. Specialist Makarova noted that these temperatures remain close to the standard climatic norm for early September.
The Moscow region, also known as Podmoskovye, refers to the administrative territory surrounding the Russian capital. Located in the Central Federal District of Russia, the area experiences a humid continental climate where autumn weather patterns often emerge in early September with cyclonic disturbances and lower daytime temperatures.
Sunday rainfall and upcoming Indian summer
Conditions will turn wetter on Sunday, September 6, as rainfall intensifies across the capital region. The weather agency expects up to 14 millimetres of precipitation to fall within a 12-hour period under cloudy skies with clear spells. Nighttime temperatures will drop to between 7 and 12 degrees Celsius, while daytime highs will reach 14 to 19 degrees. Winds are expected to ease slightly compared to Saturday.
Following the autumn foul weather over the holiday weekend, warmer conditions will briefly return to Central Russia. Makarova said an Indian summer, known in Russia as babye leto, will arrive on Tuesday, September 8. Temperatures are forecast to climb to 25 degrees Celsius, bringing a temporary return of late summer warmth across the region.
The traditional East Slavic term babye leto refers to a period of warm, dry weather that typically follows the first autumn chill in northern Eurasia. However, the weather service indicated that the upcoming warm spell will not last long, with autumn conditions expected to reassert themselves after five days.
