Russia Braces for One of the Coldest February Starts in Years
A bitter cold snap has gripped much of Russia, with temperatures plunging well below seasonal averages. The freeze is set to intensify in early February, marking one of the coldest starts to the month in recent years. Moscow recorded its lowest temperatures of the winter overnight, signalling a prolonged period of harsh weather conditions.
The coldest spell will strike during the first ten days of February, with readings expected to fall 7–9 degrees Celsius below normal. Central Russia, including Moscow, will bear the brunt of the chill, though relief is forecast by next weekend (February 7–8). Snowfall in these areas may linger until the end of the month, though overall precipitation levels will stay within typical climatic bounds.
Anticyclonic weather patterns will dominate, blocking southern cyclones from reaching European Russia. This will reinforce the freezing conditions across multiple federal regions, extending the abnormal cold into next week. Despite the severity, no extreme snow or rainfall is anticipated, keeping precipitation close to average for the season.
February as a whole will remain 2–3 degrees colder than usual, aligning with historical trends for early-month freezes. The current cold wave follows a night in Moscow that was the chilliest since winter began, underscoring the intensity of this year's weather conditions.
The freeze will gradually ease after February 7–8, though temperatures will stay below normal for most of the month. Snow cover in regions like Moscow may persist until late February, but no significant disruptions from heavy precipitation are expected. The prolonged cold reflects a pattern of anticyclonic dominance, keeping much of Russia in a deep winter chill.
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