Snowiest winter in 100 years paralyzes Moscow

The snowiest winter in a century has hit Moscow, Russian capital, causing traffic jams 3,500 km in length on Monday evening, February 4, 2013. This is equal to the distance from Moscow to Madrid and snowfall is expected for four or five more days.

Moscow has not witnessed such a snowy winter in the past 100 years, Deputy Mayor Pyotr Biryukov said on Tuesday. “This is the snowiest winter in 100 years,” Biryukov said, adding that 216 centimeters (85 inches) of snow have blanketed Moscow since the beginning of winter, which is 1.5 times above climatic norm.

The snowfall also caused the delay of 155 flights, while 56 planes had to seek alternative landing sites. Among them was that of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, which had to land in St. Petersburg due to weather conditions.

In mid-January the situation was similar in terms of heavy falls – and traffic.

In December, the harshest temperatures in 70 years were recorded, with thermometers showing temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius in some regions of Russia.

Meteorologists predict more snow is in store for Muscovites in February and March.

Weather forecast: Intellicast

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Featured image: A. Savin – January 2013