Moscow Hit by Major Winter Storm, Faces Record Snowfall and Flight Disruptions

Record Snowfall Blankets the Capital

Moscow has been hit by a major winter storm, delivering significant snowfall that has disrupted daily life and set new weather records. Between Monday night and Tuesday morning, the city experienced approximately 11 millimeters of precipitation, equivalent to about 11 centimeters of snow. This event broke a daily snowfall record for January 27, previously set in 1995. In some areas, the snow cover reached up to 50 centimeters (1.6 feet).

This recent storm follows a pattern of intense winter weather throughout January 2026. Earlier in the month, on January 9, Moscow recorded 22 millimeters of precipitation in a single day, marking the heaviest snowfall in 56 years and accounting for 42 percent of the monthly norm. Meteorologists, including Tatyana Pozdnyakova, chief meteorologist at Meteonovosti, have warned residents to prepare for 'snowdrifts and compacted snow' to persist.

Widespread Travel Disruptions

The severe weather conditions have led to considerable disruptions across Moscow's transportation networks. Air travel has been particularly affected, with Sheremetyevo Airport diverting incoming flights on Tuesday morning before eventually restoring regular operations. While Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports remained open, they reported numerous delays due to blizzard conditions.

Earlier in January, over 180 flights were delayed or canceled at Moscow airports, and on January 10, 78 flights faced delays of more than two hours, with 35 cancellations across the city's four major airports. Road traffic has also been severely impacted, with significant congestion reported on major arteries such as the Garden Ring and the Moscow Ring Road. Transportation officials have urged Muscovites to avoid driving and instead utilize the underground metro system.

Cold Snap and City Response

Beyond the heavy snowfall, Moscow is bracing for a significant drop in temperatures. Forecasts indicate very low temperatures over the coming weekend. January 2026 has already been notably colder than average, with temperatures averaging -7.1 °C, which is 2.2 °C below the typical seasonal average. Further cooling is anticipated, with temperatures potentially dropping to -11.5 °C.

In response to the challenging conditions, Moscow officials have issued a 'code orange' advisory, signaling hazardous weather. City services have been working continuously to manage the snow accumulation. The Moscow Mayor's Office reported clearing nearly 1 million cubic meters of snow over a single weekend earlier in the month, while Moscow Railway removed approximately 70,000 cubic meters from its infrastructure.