Moscow Braces for Snowiest Winter Since 1966, Meteorologists Say

Moscow's winter this year may become the snowiest since 1966, following extraordinary precipitation levels recorded in January. "January 2026 brought a record amount of precipitation — 101 millimeters — the highest figure in the history of systematic meteorological observations and nearly double the climatic norm,” Nikolai Tereshonok, head of the meteorology and climate department at the Central Directorate for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, told TASS. Winter precipitation could total around 200 millimeters, exceeding the seasonal average by approximately 30 millimeters in 2026. "By this measure, the winter may prove the snowiest in 60 years since 1966,” he noted. Snow Cover Exceeds Long-Term Averages The depth of snow cover in January and as of February 10 has also approached nearly twice the long-term average. According to Tereshonok, the mean January snow cover height has already set a record for the observational period beginning in 1994.