Moscow braves record snowfall (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
Moscow is being hit by a powerful snowstorm that has led to the highest snow accumulation in the city in around 70 years, according to meteorologists.
Snow accumulation at a weather station at the All-Russian Exhibition Center (VDNKh) reached 62 cm (24.4 inches) Thursday morning, having topped the previous daily record of 57 cm (22.4 inches) set in 1956, Russia’s Hydrometeorological Center told RBK.
This January has become the snowiest month in the city in more than two centuries, according to the meteorological observatory of Lomonosov Moscow State University, as cited by TASS
“The heavy snowfall was caused by deep and extensive cyclones passing over the Moscow region, with pronounced atmospheric fronts,” the researchers said.
City services remain on high alert and are working around the clock to clear roads, sidewalks, and public transport hubs.
Moscow officials said thousands of workers and hundreds of snowplows had been deployed to keep traffic moving and ensure access to residential areas.
As heavy snowfall continues, a large snow mound, unofficially dubbed the “Miusskaya Dune,” has formed once again at Miusskaya Square in north-central Moscow.
First appearing during the early phases of the snowstorm, the massive snowbank has grown as city services clear snow from the square and surrounding streets, piling it into one central location.
Despite the scale of the snowfall, public transport continued to operate largely as normal, though officials urged drivers to avoid unnecessary trips.
Slippery roads led to slower traffic and a rise in minor accidents, while snowdrifts have caused localized disruptions in courtyards and smaller streets.
Meteorologists expect the snowfall to gradually taper off, but subzero temperatures are expected to continue, meaning the deep snow cover is likely to persist in the coming days.
