Climate in Moscow (European Russia)

In Moscow, the capital of Russia, the climate is continental, with very cold winters and mild to warm summers, when, however, there can be hot days. The city is located in the western part of the Russian Federation, at 55 degrees north latitude.
As happens in big cities, in Moscow there is an urban heat island, where temperatures are higher, typically by one or two degrees Celsius, compared with the surrounding countryside, especially at night and in winter (when the difference can be even bigger).
Here are the average temperatures measured at Vnukovo airport, located on the southwestern outskirts of the city.

Precipitation is not very abundant, in fact, it amounts to 755 millimeters (29.7 inches) per year, but it's well distributed over the seasons; in winter, it almost always occurs as snow, while in summer it can occur in the form of thunderstorms. The first snowfalls usually occur in October, but occasionally, they can even occur in late September.
Here is the average precipitation.

The rainiest months are July and August, mainly because of afternoon thunderstorms, which can sometimes be accompanied by strong wind gusts.

Winter is cold: the temperature is usually below freezing for several months. There is an average of 150 frost days (ie, with minimum temperatures below freezing) per year. However, the average temperature is the result of different situations: when the wind blows from Siberia, the temperature easily drops to -20 °C (-4 °F), but when the currents from the Atlantic Ocean arrive here, it can stay around freezing, or even slightly above.
In the past, cold waves were more frequent and intense. In the Moscow Agrometeorological Station (VDNKh), the coldest record is -42.1 °C (-43.8 °F) and was set in January 1940, while after 1980, the temperature dropped to -32.4 °C (-26.3 °F) in January 1987.
Snow in Moscow is frequent, but generally not abundant: dull weather, with a light and persistent snow, is typical of the Russian capital. It usually snows from mid-October to early April. On average, about 150 centimeters (60 inches) of snow fall per year.
From time to time, quite heavy snowfalls can occur, which are becoming more frequent with global warming. The maximum thickness reached was 77 cm (30 in) in March 2013.

Typically, the thaw occurs in late March or early April. By the second half of April, the Russian capital can be reached by the warm wind from the southeast.

Summer, from June to August, is mild or pleasantly warm. The average summer temperature in Moscow is similar to that of cities like Paris or Berlin. However, there are significant changes, in fact, there are hot and sultry days, with temperatures reaching 35 °C (95 °F), and also rainy and cool days, with highs around 15/16 °C (59/61 °F).
Typically, periods of hot weather last a few days, and may be interrupted by thunderstorms or wind storms. However, in the exceptional summer of 2010, the temperature hit a record 38 °C (100 °F) and there were sixteen days with a maximum temperature of 35 °C (95 °F) or higher.



In Moscow, the sun shines for an average of 1,730 hours a year. The sun is rarely seen from November to February, while from May to August, it shines about half the time (the days are very long, so the total amount of sunshine is not low). Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best time to visit Moscow runs from late May to early September: temperatures are usually pleasant, and the days are long (especially from early June to July 10, when it doesn't get completely dark even at midnight). However, this period is not always stable: sometimes, it rains and it's cool (and even a little cold at night), while at other times, it gets hot. There can also be afternoon thunderstorms.

Moscow - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -7.3 °C (19 °F), with a minimum of -9.8 °C (14.3 °F) and a maximum of -4.8 °C (23.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -22.5 °C (-8.5 °F). However, it dropped to -32 °C (-25.6 °F) in January 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it reached 8 °C (46.4 °F) in January 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 1 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 14% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -6.8 °C (20 °F), with a minimum of -9.9 °C (14.2 °F) and a maximum of -3.8 °C (25.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -22.5 °C (-8 °F). However, it dropped to -31 °C (-23.8 °F) in February 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 3 °C (37 °F). However, it reached 8 °C (46.4 °F) in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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March is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -1.7 °C (29 °F), with a minimum of -5.4 °C (22.3 °F) and a maximum of 2 °C (35.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -14 °C (7 °F). However, it dropped to -22 °C (-7.6 °F) in March 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10 °C (49.5 °F). However, it reached 18 °C (64.4 °F) in March 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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April is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 6.1 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 1.5 °C (34.7 °F) and a maximum of 10.7 °C (51.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22.5 °F). However, it dropped to -13 °C (8.6 °F) in April 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (69.5 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.8 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 7.6 °C (45.7 °F) and a maximum of 18 °C (64.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5 °C (23 °F) in May 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 32 °C (89.6 °F) in May 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.5 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 11.4 °C (52.4 °F) and a maximum of 21.6 °C (70.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 2 °C (35.6 °F) in June 2008.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84 °F). However, it reached 33 °C (91.4 °F) in June 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are very long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.1 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 14.1 °C (57.4 °F) and a maximum of 24.1 °C (75.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5 °C (41 °F) in July 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87 °F). However, it reached 37 °C (98.6 °F) in July 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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August is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.1 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 12.2 °C (54 °F) and a maximum of 22 °C (71.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3 °C (37.4 °F) in August 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in August 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.5 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.3 °F) and a maximum of 15.7 °C (60.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5 °C (23 °F) in September 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75.5 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in September 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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October is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.1 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 2.1 °C (35.8 °F) and a maximum of 8.2 °C (46.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22.5 °F). However, it dropped to -13 °C (8.6 °F) in October 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C (63 °F). However, it reached 24 °C (75.2 °F) in October 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -1.4 °C (30 °F), with a minimum of -3.5 °C (25.7 °F) and a maximum of 0.7 °C (33.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -13 °C (9 °F). However, it dropped to -23 °C (-9.4 °F) in November 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it reached 15 °C (59 °F) in November 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 1 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 13% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -5.4 °C (22 °F), with a minimum of -7.6 °C (18.3 °F) and a maximum of -3.1 °C (26.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -19 °C (-2.5 °F). However, it dropped to -31 °C (-23.8 °F) in December 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it reached 9 °C (48.2 °F) in December 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 8% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).