Climate and weather in Moscow and the Moscow Region are the topic of this article. We will describe in detail all the weather features characteristic of the capital region.
Location of the Moscow region
The Moscow region is located in the center of the East European Plain. It borders with the Tver region in the north and northwest, the Yaroslavl region in the northeast, the Vladimir region in the east, Ryazan in the southeast, Tula in the south, Kaluga in the southwest, and Smolensk - in the west. The city of Moscow is located in the center of the Moscow region. Its relief is mostly flat. Hilly hills are in the west, reach 160 meters in height. Vast lowlands are located in the east.
Climate continental
The climate of the Moscow region is temperate continental. It is transitional from European, soft to sharply continental Asian. The fact that the region is remote from large bodies of water, such as seas and oceans, explains this feature. Moscow as a climatic zone is interesting in that seasonality is clearly expressed here: warm summers, moderately cold winters. It must be borne in mind that continentality is increasing in the direction from northwest to southeast. This is expressed, among other things, in lower temperatures in the winter season and in higher temperatures in the summer.
You may also be interested in what climatic zone in Moscow stands out. In Russia, there are the following options: I, II, III, IV and special. So what is the climate zone in Moscow? According to temperature data, it belongs to the II zone.
Moderate climate and pronounced seasonality
The climate of the Moscow region differs from that in other regions of Russia in that it is characterized by a moderate nature. Relatively mild winters and not too sultry summers are noted. The climatic zone of Moscow, like the rest of the northern hemisphere, is characterized by the fact that there has been a strong warming in the last 50 years. This is expressed in a significant increase in the number of hot days in a year. In addition, winters come later. They become softer, with frequent and prolonged thaws. However, despite all these changes, the overall climate of Moscow and the region expresses quite clearly the seasonality of the 4 seasons: summer, autumn, spring and winter.
More on climate change
Scientists from Russia are convinced that the main cause of climate change is human activities. First of all, it is the burning of fossil fuels. In the atmosphere, the concentration of carbon dioxide is increasing every year, which is confirmed by measurements taken in our country. Not just warming is noted - there is a change in the basic characteristics of the climate. Droughts are becoming more prolonged, they capture large territories. Often there is a lot of rainfall at a time. The result is an increase in the number of natural disasters that are related to climate. These are hurricanes, floods, forest fires. At first glance, it might seem that warming should positively affect the health of the inhabitants of the northern country. However, such climate change can lead to negative consequences. In 2010, the "heat waves" observed during the summer period, often coming with the smog of fires, led to an increase in mortality in Moscow. Moreover, for this reason, significant amounts of forest are being destroyed.
Global warming is an urgent problem of our time, which can only be solved together. I would like the countries of the world to be more active in this direction.
Rainfall
The average annual temperature varies from +3.7 ° C to +3.8 ° C (according to some reports, it reaches +5 ° C or even +5.8 ° C). 540-650 mm is the average annual rainfall that characterizes the Moscow climatic zone (fluctuations range from 270 to 900 mm). In the summer season they have a maximum, in the winter - a minimum. In the Moscow region, according to statistics, 171 days a year are with precipitation. In this case, 2/3 of them fall in the form of rain and 1/3 in the form of snow. In the region during some winters, precipitation in the form of snow falls to half of the total annual norm. The most moistened are the northwestern regions. The southeastern ones (Kolomna district) are least moistened. The Moscow region, in general, belongs to the zone of sufficient humidity. Despite this, years with a deficit of precipitation are also characteristic of it. Of every hundred years, according to statistics, 25-30 are arid in the suburbs. In December-January, the maximum humidity is observed (86%), and the minimum falls on May (67%).
Daylight hours, daily average temperatures
The climate of Moscow and the region is characterized by the fact that during the year the sun shines 1568 hours. In summer , the daylight hours are about 15-17 hours. 206-216 days is a period characterized by positive air temperatures. 177 days a year, the thermometer shows 5 ° C and above. The duration of the period characterized by active vegetation of plants does not exceed 138-140 days , when the temperature exceeds 10 ° C. 2050 ° C - the total temperature at this time. From 250 to 270 mm of precipitation falls during the growing season. 120-135 days lasts a period of time when daily average temperatures drop below 0 ° C. It starts in mid-November and ends around the end of March.
About 34% of the possible sunshine is received by the Moscow region. The rest is absorbed due to cloud cover. Fully clear days in a year - 17%, but completely cloudy - 32%. Most often, clear days are in April, and November is rich in cloudy.
The winds
We continue to describe the type of climate in Moscow and move on to the story of the winds. The most frequent and strongest are usually observed in winter (their average value is 4.7 m / s), and the weakest - in summer (3.5 m / s). During the day, the distribution of winds is also uneven. Their highest speeds are usually observed in the morning. Winds of weak strength blow at night - this feature has the local type of climate. In Moscow, their speed is from 6 to 9 m / s about 1/5 of the entire annual period. Strong winds, the speed of which is 15 m / s, according to statistics, are recorded in a very short period of time - only from 8 to 15 days a year. The prevailing winds of south-west, north and west are characterized by the climate of Moscow and the region.
The beginning of the winter period, the duration of winter
The date when there is a steady transition through the average daily temperature of -5 ° C is taken as the beginning of the winter period. This is usually November 26 or 27. The climatic zone of the Moscow region is characterized by a fairly long winter. Its duration is about 5 months. However, it is relatively cold. Winter begins at the end of November (its onset can be postponed to the beginning of December) and lasts until April.
First half of winter
Usually snow cover appears in November. But there were sometimes times when it was observed at the end of September or, on the contrary, only in December. Permanent cover of snow disappears in mid-April (perhaps this is earlier, at the end of March). Moreover, the climate of the city of Moscow is characterized by the fact that the first half of winter is much warmer than the second. The average temperature in the west of the region is -8 ° C in winter. In the east, it is -12 ° C. Unofficially, the "cold pole" near Moscow is the village of Cherusti located in the extreme east of the region. Here in January the temperature averages -13 ° C.
The advent of the winter anticyclone
Large masses of cold Arctic air enter the territory of the Moscow Region with the advent of the winter anticyclone. Often the temperature reaches -25-30 ° C. During this time, severe frosts occur that can last up to 30 days during the winter. This occurs when arctic anticyclones, extensive and inactive, arise over the surface of a continent that is heavily chilled. Frost in some years reached -45 ° C. The absolute temperature minimum for one hundred years was registered in Naro-Fominsk. Here the temperature was -54 ° C (in Klin, 52 ° C, in Istra - 53 ° C). The second half of January, as well as the beginning of February, has the coldest time of the year.
Thaws
With the arrival of warm air masses in winter (especially in February and December), thaws arise. They are caused by Mediterranean and (more often) Atlantic cyclones. As a rule, thaws are accompanied by heavy snowfalls. Temperatures at the very height of winter at this time suddenly rise to + 4–5 ° C. Thaws sometimes last several days, and can last a week or more. 4 days is their average duration, and the total number can reach 50, from November to March. February is a blizzard month characterized by heavy snowfalls and blizzards. This applies especially to the second half of the month and indicates that winter is not going to recede at this time. The sharp warming observed after heavy snowfalls form the so-called porridge on the roads. Another winter misfortune, which marked the climate of Moscow and the Moscow region, is frost. And if the snow turns into puddles after the thaw, it freezes, ice appears on the roads. In winter, strong winds are also sometimes observed (mainly in the western and south-western directions), huge icicles, snowstorms and fogs hanging from the roofs.
Snow depth, soil freezing
The height of the snow cover on average by the end of winter is 25-50 cm. Soils freeze at 65-75 cm (this mark is lower in the west of the region). Freezing reaches a depth of 150 cm in light snowy, abnormally cold winters.
The beginning of spring
Let us now consider the features that the climate of Moscow and the region has in spring. Spring usually begins in late March - early April. It lasts until about the second half of May or until the beginning of June.
During the first half of March, winter fights with spring. At this time, the weather in Moscow is unstable: snowstorms and frost alternate with fine sunny days and the thaw. This confusion ceases around mid-March. Gradually, the weather is getting better, the spring sun is starting to bake, the snow is melting. 15 days is the average snow melting period. Usually this process ends on April 2-8. This date practically coincides with the period when the daily average temperatures pass through the 0 ° C mark. 1-2 days after the snow cover is melting, the soil thaws. Most of the meltwater therefore rolls down at this time on frozen soil. If the area is poorly drained, moisture stagnates in the arable layer on the surface, thereby causing leaching of crops, as well as seasonal seasonal gleying. This is especially true for acidic soils. Usually in the third decade of April, complete thawing of the land ends. In most cases, spring frost stops on May 10-20. The time of drying out of the soil begins when the snow finally melts. It lasts about 20-22 days. Typically, the weather in Moscow and the region in mid-April provides local residents with the opportunity to farm.
May
All nature comes to life in May. The climatic zone of Moscow at that time is characterized by the fact that leaves on bushes and trees bloom, the grass turns green, many plants bloom, and insect life is activated. It smells of flowers and warmth in the air. The first May thunderstorms filled the space with the fragrant moisture of plants that blossomed at this time. Despite the fact that in May the average air temperature during the day is +16 ° C, cold returns are still possible at this time, and frost on the soil is possible. In this month, the average daily temperature is 10.9–11.6 ° C.
Summer in the Moscow region
The climatic zone of Moscow is characterized by warm summers. It usually lasts 3.5 months, from the end of May to September. On average, about 75 mm of precipitation falls in the summer months. However, in the Moscow region, severe droughts occur every 25-30 years. At this time, precipitation is less than 5 mm.
June
June is a relatively warm month. +19 ° C is the average daily temperature. However, it is possible at this time to return cold weather, when lingering rains and a sharp cooling can change summer heat. In June, the average daily temperature is 14.6–15.3 ° C. 70 mm - rainfall this month (average). On loams, the moisture reserve in the soil layer is 1 m 180-220 mm, on sandy loam this figure is about 120-140 mm.
July weather
The warmest month of the year is July. In the west, the average daily temperature is +16.9 ° C, and in the southeast - +18 ° C. Daytime air temperature in summer can sometimes reach +35 and even +40 ° C. The maximum over the past hundred years has been noted in Bykovo (+39.7 ° C) and Kolomna (+39 ° C).
However, such heat is an infrequent phenomenon and is more likely an exception to the rule. Precipitation usually occurs in the form of torrential rains. Often they are accompanied by thunderstorms. Mozhaisk, Stupino and Naro-Fominsk are considered the most thunderous areas. Up to 80 mm of precipitation falls in July.
August in the Moscow region
August is the time of harvest. Hot weather is rarely observed at this time. The temperature averages + 15-15.5 ° C. The sun is still pampering with its presence, but the nights are pretty cool. In August, daylight hours are significantly reduced, precipitation is added, and cloudy days are becoming more.
Beginning of autumn
In the Moscow region, autumn is quite long, warm and humid. It usually begins in early September. This is a moderately warm month, but cold is already felt in the air. The average daily temperature in September is + 9.6–10.1 ° C. Notably less than in summer, daylight hours continue, so all processes in wildlife slow down. Leaves turn yellow, dress in colorful elegant clothes near Moscow forests. This is a beautiful time of the year. For some days in mid-September, sunny warm weather returns. The air temperature can reach + 22–25 ° C. This period is popularly called the Indian summer. These are the last warm days of the year, and at this time some shrubs and trees often bloom repeatedly.
September 10-14 is the time at the end of active vegetation. In the same period, a transition through the 10 ° C mark of average daily temperature is observed, ending on October 8–12. September 20-23, the first frosts come.
October
October is a cold, rainy and cloudy month. Only + 3.2–4 ° C is the average daily temperature. Precipitation usually takes the form of rain, rain with snow or snow. Their number is about 50 mm per month. The daylight becomes even shorter. The last leaves drop trees. Vegetation ceases, processes in wildlife slow down.
November weather features
November is almost a cold winter month. About 0 ° C is at this time the average daily temperature. At the same time, there is a tendency to minus its values. The monthly rainfall at this time is 40 mm (mainly in the form of snow). There is a short daylight hours, wildlife flows into the winter suspended animation. Persistent frosts begin in the region from the second half of this month. -3.2–2.2 ° C is the average daily temperature in November.
Now you know what weather the capital of our country, Moscow, can meet you at any time of the year. Which climate zone corresponds to the Moscow region is now no secret to you either. We hope the information provided will be useful to you.