Russia is heading into an unusually warm winter, with average temperatures potentially running three to four degrees above the seasonal norm, according to meteorologist Yevgeny Tishkovets, lead specialist at the Fobos weather center.
Tishkovets gave the preliminary forecast to the Zvezda television channel, saying the coming season would also bring higher humidity, with precipitation likely to increase across many Russian regions in the second half of winter. Snowfall is expected to be heavier than usual in Central Russia, the Volga region, and the country's southern and northwestern regions.
February is expected to bring frequent snow and rain, with wet snow and freezing rain hitting residents during the month, Tishkovets said. At the same time, stable snow cover is likely to be less common than usual because of frequent thaws. Despite the abnormally high average temperatures, he said cold snaps could still occur, and meteorologists have not ruled out spells of severe frost.
Shorter Winter Expected in Moscow
In Moscow, meteorological winter could run two to three weeks shorter than normal. The season typically begins in mid-November and ends on March 20. Tishkovets said drivers in the capital would need to switch from summer to winter tires later than the usual seasonal timing.
Fobos is a private Russian weather forecasting center that regularly issues seasonal outlooks, while Zvezda is a television channel affiliated with Russia's Ministry of Defence.
Outlook for Spring and Summer
Looking further ahead, preliminary estimates suggest that spring 2027 will bring mixed and inconsistent weather. Summer, meanwhile, is not expected to bring intense heat, with forecasters instead pointing to a cooler, rainier season.
First Snow Still Weeks Away
Despite the warm winter outlook, Moscow's first snow of the season is not expected for some time. Snow is forecast to arrive in the capital only in the second half of October, and it is not expected to settle on the ground for long once it does.
