Climate and weather in Moscow and the Moscow region is the topic of this article. We will describe in detail all the weather features that are typical for the capital region.
Location of the Moscow region
Moscow Region is located in the center of the East European Plain. It borders on the Tver region in the north and northwest, on the Yaroslavl region in the northeast, on the Vladimir region in the east, on the Ryazan region in the southeast, on the Tula region in the south, on the Kaluga region in the southwest, Smolenskaya - 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, reaching 160 meters in height. Vast lowlands are located in the east.
Continental climate
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 in the direction from the northwest to the southeast, continentality increases. This is expressed inincluding lower temperatures in winter and higher temperatures in summer.
You may also be interested in which climate zone stands out in Moscow. In Russia, there are the following variants: 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 distinct seasonality
The climate of the Moscow region differs from that of other regions of Russia in that there is moderate natural conditions. There are relatively mild winters and not too hot summers. The climatic zone of Moscow, like the rest of the northern hemisphere, is characterized by the fact that a strong warming has been observed here in the last 50 years. This is reflected in a significant increase in the number of hot days per year. In addition, winters come later. They become softer, with frequent and prolonged thaws. However, despite all these changes, in general, the 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 sure that the main cause of climate change is human activity. The first is the burning of fossil fuels. In the atmosphere, the concentration of carbon dioxide is growing every year, which is confirmed by measurements carried out on the territory of our country. Not just warming is noted - there is a change in the main characteristics of the climate. Droughts are becoming longer, they capture largeterritory. Often there is a lot of precipitation at the same time. The result is an increase in the number of natural disasters that are linked to the climate. These are hurricanes, floods, forest fires. At first glance, it may seem that the he alth of the inhabitants of the northern country should be positively affected by warming. However, such climate change can also have negative consequences. In 2010, "heat waves" observed in the summer period, often accompanied by fire smog, led to an increase in mortality in Moscow. In addition, for this reason, significant amounts of forests 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.
Precipitation
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 - the average annual amount of precipitation, which characterizes the climatic zone of Moscow (fluctuations range from 270 to 900 mm). Their maximum is in the summer season, and their minimum in the winter. In the Moscow region, according to statistics, 171 days a year - with precipitation. At the same time, 2/3 of them fall in the form of rain and 1/3 - in the form of snow. On the territory of the region in some winters precipitation in the form of snow falls up to half of the total annual norm. The most humid are the northwestern regions. The southeastern ones (Kolomensky district) are the least humidified. The Moscow region, as a whole, belongs to the zonesufficient moisture. Despite this, it is also characterized by years with a deficit of precipitation. According to statistics, out of every hundred years, 25-30 are dry in the Moscow region. In December-January, there is a maximum humidity (86%), and a minimum occurs in May (67%).
Length of daylight, average daily temperatures
The climate of Moscow and the region is characterized by the fact that during the year the sun shines for 1568 hours. In summer, the duration of daylight hours is about 15-17 hours. 206-216 days is a period characterized by positive values of air temperature. 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 time period when average daily temperatures fall below 0 °C. It starts in mid-November and ends around the end of March.
About 34% of possible sunshine is received by the Moscow region. The rest is absorbed due to cloud cover. Completely clear days in a year - 17%, but completely overcast - 32%. Most often, clear days are in April, and November is rich in cloudy ones.
Winds
We continue to describe the type of climate in Moscow and move on to the story of the winds. The most frequent and strong 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 hours. Winds of weak strength blow at night - such a feature has the local type of climate. In Moscow, their speed is from 6 to 9 m/s for about 1/5 of the entire annual period. Strong winds with a speed of 15 m / s, according to statistics, are recorded in a very short period of time - only from 8 to 15 days a year. The climate of Moscow and the region is characterized by the predominance of southwestern, northern and western winds.
Beginning of winter period, duration of winter
The date when there is a steady transition through the value of the average daily air temperature of -5 °C is taken as the beginning of the winter period. It's usually November 26th or 27th. The climatic zone of the Moscow region is characterized by a fairly long winter. Its duration is about 5 months. It is, however, relatively cold. Winter starts at the end of November (its onset can be postponed to the beginning of December) and lasts until April.
First half of winter
Normally snow cover appears in November. But there were sometimes such years when it was observed at the end of September or, on the contrary, only in December. The permanent snow cover disappears in mid-April (perhaps even earlier, at the end of March). At the same time, 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 observed in the west of the region is -8 °C in winter. In the east it is -12 °C. Unofficially, the "pole of cold" near Moscow is consideredlocated in the extreme east of the region, the village of Cherusti. Here in January, the average temperature is -13 °C.
Arrival of the winter anticyclone
Large masses of cold Arctic air enter the territory of the Moscow region with the arrival of the winter anticyclone. Often the temperature reaches -25–30 °C. At this time, severe frosts set in, which can last up to 30 days during the winter. This happens when arctic anticyclones, vast and inactive, appear above the surface of the mainland, which is very cold. Frosts in some years reached -45 °C. The absolute temperature minimum for a 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, is the coldest time of the year.
Thaws
With the arrival of warm air masses in winter (especially in February and December), thaws occur. They are caused by Mediterranean and (more often) Atlantic cyclones. As a rule, thaws are accompanied by heavy snowfalls. Temperatures in the midst of winter at this time suddenly rise to + 4–5 ° C. Thaws sometimes last several days, and can last a week or even 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 retreat at this time. Observed after copioussnowfalls, sharp warmings form the so-called porridge on the roads. Another winter misfortune that marks the climate of Moscow and the Moscow region is frost. And if the snow that has turned into puddles after a thaw freezes, sleet appears on the roads. In winter, strong winds are also sometimes observed (mainly from the western and south-western directions), huge icicles hanging from the roofs, snowstorms and fogs.
Snow depth, soil freezing
The average height of snow cover by the end of winter is 25-50 cm. Soils freeze by 65-75 cm (in the west of the region this mark is less). Freezing reaches a depth of 150 cm in snowy, abnormally cold winters.
Beginning of spring
Now let's consider the features that the climate of Moscow and the region has in the 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 is at war with spring. At this time, the weather in Moscow is unstable: snowstorms and frosts alternate with fine sunny days and thaws. This confusion ends around mid-March. Gradually, the weather improves, the spring sun begins to bake, the snow melts. 15 days is the average length of the snowmelt period. Usually this process ends on April 2-8. This date practically coincides with the period when average daily temperatures pass through the mark of 0 °C. 1-2 days after the snow cover melts, thawing occurssoil. Most of the melt water therefore rolls down at this time on the frozen soil. If the territory is poorly drained, moisture stagnates in the arable layer on the surface, thereby causing washing out of crops, as well as surface seasonal gleying. This is especially true for acidic soils. Usually in the third decade of April, the complete thawing of the earth ends. In most cases, spring frosts stop on May 10-20. The time for the drying of the soil begins when the snow finally melts. It lasts approximately 20-22 days. Usually the weather in Moscow and the region in mid-April provides local residents with the opportunity to engage in farming.
May
Full nature comes to life in May. The climatic zone of Moscow is characterized at this time by the fact that leaves bloom on shrubs and trees, the grass turns green, many plants bloom, and insect life is activated. The air smells of flowers and warmth. The first May thunderstorms fill the space with the fragrant moisture of the plants that have blossomed at this time. Despite the fact that in May the average air temperature during the day is +16 °C, returns of cold weather are still possible at this time, and frosts on the soil. 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 during the summer months. However, in the Moscow region, once every 25-30 years there are severe droughts. During this time, rainfallless than 5 mm.
June
June is a relatively warm month. +19 °C is the average daily temperature. However, returns of cold weather are possible at this time, when summer heat can be replaced by prolonged rains and a sharp cold snap. In June, the average daily temperature is 14.6–15.3 °C. 70 mm is the amount of precipitation this month (on average). On loams, the moisture reserve in a soil layer of 1 m is 180-220 mm, on sandy loams this figure is about 120-140 mm.
Weather in July
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 was recorded in Bykovo (+39.7 °C) and Kolomna (+39 °C).
However, such heat is an infrequent occurrence and is rather an exception to the rule. Precipitation usually falls in the form of heavy rains. They are often 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 harvest time. At this time, hot weather is rarely observed. The temperature averages +15-15.5 °C. The sun still pampers with its presence, but the nights become quite cool. In August, daylight hours are significantly reduced, precipitation is added, and cloudy days become more frequent.
Beginning of autumn
In the Moscow region, autumn is quite long, warm and humid. It usually starts in early September. It's a moderately warm month, but you can already feel the chill in the air. +9.6–10.1 °C is the average daily temperature in September. Noticeably less than in summer, daylight hours last, so all processes in wildlife slow down. The leaves turn yellow, the forests near Moscow are dressed in colorful elegant clothes. This is a beautiful time of the year. Sunny warm weather returns for a few days in mid-September. The air temperature in this case can reach +22–25 °C. This period is popularly referred to as the Indian summer. These are the last warm days of the year, and some shrubs and trees often re-bloom at this time.
September 10-14 is the time at the end of the active growing season. In the same period, there is a transition through the mark of 10 °C of the average daily temperature, ending on October 8–12. On 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 is usually in the form of rain, sleet or snow. Their number is about 50 mm per month. Daylight hours are getting shorter. The trees shed their last leaves. Vegetation stops, processes in wildlife slow down.
November weather features
November is almost a winter, cold month. Around 0 °C is the average daily temperature at this time. At the same time, there is a tendency to minus its values. The monthly precipitation rate at this time is 40 mm (mainly in the form of snow). Observedshort daylight hours, wildlife falls into winter suspended animation. Steady 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 kind of weather can meet you at one time or another of the year, the capital of our country - the city of Moscow. Which climatic zone corresponds to the Moscow region is now no secret to you either. We hope that the information provided will be useful to you.
