Moscow will experience a changeable but classically wintry spell over the New Year holidays, beginning with stable frosts before a notable thaw and a period of snow, and ending with a fresh plunge in temperature by the Orthodox Christmas period, forecasters say.
Moscow weather forecast and week ahead
Forecaster Alexander Ilyin of the Meteo forecasting centre told aif.ru that the first days of January will feel authentically wintry, with steady frosts and crisp snow underfoot. That initial cold, however, will not persist for long.
From 3 January a significant warming trend will move into the region. Daytime temperatures are expected to climb to between -2°C and -7°C, while nights should remain milder than the deep cold typical of early January. Overnight values in the coming weekend are forecast at roughly -3°C to -8°C, so extremes below -10°C are unlikely at that stage.
The approaching thaw will be accompanied by increased precipitation. Ilyin warned that snow will become more frequent, and in places heavier, though winds should remain moderate at around 4–9 metres per second with no severe gusts expected.
Atmospheric pressure will play a key role in the sequence. Pressure may fall to nearly 735 mmHg on 3 January, according to the forecast, before rising towards 740 mmHg on 4 January. That pressure rise is expected to herald the next turning point in the weather.
As pressure increases, an anticyclonic ridge will push across the region and temperatures will begin to drop again. By 6 January daytime readings are likely to range from about -6°C to -8°C, and by the end of the day many parts of the Moscow region could see readings around -8°C to -10°C.
Christmas night is expected to remain relatively steady, with frost holding in much the same range. Daytime temperatures on the holiday are not forecast to warm markedly, sitting near -7°C, locally down to -8°C. Precipitation is unlikely around the Christmas period, so conditions should be largely dry.
Following the holiday, the cold intensifies. Ilyin said that on the night of 8 January temperatures in the Moscow region, particularly in south-eastern districts, could fall to between -11°C and -16°C. Central Moscow is likely to see nights around -11°C to -13°C, with daytime values on 8 January only improving to roughly -9°C to -11°C.
By 9 January the forecast moderates slightly. Night-time temperatures should remain near -10°C to -12°C while daytime highs climb to between -5°C and -8°C. A light snow shower is possible that day, the forecaster added, as cyclonic influence returns in a limited form.
The forthcoming holidays will therefore alternate between days of deep frost, milder, snowier interludes and a renewed threat of stronger cold after Christmas. Residents are advised to expect variable conditions: there will be opportunities to enjoy a wintry atmosphere, interspersed with milder spells that make outdoor activity more comfortable between the cold snaps.
Key Takeaways:
- Moscow weather forecast: a cold start to January will be followed by a mid-holiday thaw with frequent snow, then a return to colder conditions by Christmas.
- Temperatures rise from 3 January to daytime highs of around -2 to -7°C, with nights becoming milder than early January extremes.
- Lower atmospheric pressure around 3–4 January will bring precipitation; pressure then rises, ushering in an anticyclonic chill before 6–8 January.
- After Christmas temperatures drop sharply again, with nights in the Moscow region falling to -11…-16°C on 8 January; light snow is possible on 9 January.
