What Russian cities look like in extreme winter frosts (PHOTOS)

Snowboarding in the west of Moscow, on Krylatskie Hills.

Valery Sharifulin/TASS

“Avalanche of cold” - This is what forecasters call the sharp cooling that occurred in the last days in many Russian regions. Just feel it: it was +5°C (+41°F) in Moscow on New Year’s Eve (the average January temperature in Moscow in January should be about -10°C [+50°F]), then it dropped to about zero and, on January 6, the temperature plummeted sharply to -22°C (-7.6°F)! 

Russian Santas from regions gathered in Moscow.

Artur Novosiltsev / Moskva Agency

Weather experts say that the reason for such frosts is the super cold air from the Arctic seas. However, it’s far from being considered a harsh winter: the coldest January recorded in Moscow was in 1940, when the temperature fell to -42°C (-43.6°F). 

Halo in Moscow Region.

Vladimir Gerdo/TASS

As a result of such a sharp cooling, locals observed unique natural phenomena for Moscow - a solar halo and light pillars. (more about these unique phenomena here) 

Cold water swimmers of Krasnoyarsk.

Ilya Naimushin/Sputnik

In the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, it is relatively “warm” these days - just -20°C (-4°F)! 

Krasnoyarsk cold water swimmer.

Ilya Naimushin/Sputnik

It’s much colder in central Russia: in Ivanovo, Vladimir and Tver regions, it was down to -28°C (-18.4°F), while in Kostroma Region, the temperature dropped below -30°C (-22°F).

Christmas Fest in Shuya, Ivanovo Region.

Vladimir Smirnov/TASS

According to forecasters, the temperature in most regions will return to normal at the end of the week. 

Kineshma, Ivanovo Region, -28°C.

Vladimir Smirnov/TASS

The further to the east, the colder it gets.

Diveevo, Nizhny Novgorod Region.

Alexander Ryumin/TASS

Nizhny Novgorod and Kirov are now experiencing frosts of -36°C (-32.8°F) and they are expected to last quite a long time.

Murmansk, January 7.

Pavel Lvov/Sputnik

In the Urals, it’s a little warmer at -34°C (-29.2°F). 

Ufa, Bashkortostan, -34°C.

Maxim Bogovid/Sputnik

Yakutia, once again, confirms the title of the coldest region of Russia. Yakutsk, the republic’s capital, is greeted with minus 50-degree frosts. In Oymyakon, the “pole of cold”, it’s -52°C (-61.6°F). 

Here are people swimming in hot springs of Oymyakon.

Semen Sivtsev/@sivtsevsema958

Such frosts are, although extreme, not unique in many regions of Russia, so there are no special utility or traffic problems. 

Fun fact:

In the south of Russia, winter looks completely different. In Sochi and Anapa, it is a toasty +10-15°C (+50-59°F). However, locals still think it is cold and look forward to spring!

Anapa, the coast of the Black Sea, January 2.

Vitaly Timkiv/Sputnik

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