Climate of Moscow

Moscow has a warm-summer humid continental climate, which means it has warm to hot summers and long, cold winters. During the summer months of June, July, and August, temperatures usually reach around 20 °C (68 °F), but during heat waves, they can often climb above 23 °C (73 °F). Winter temperatures typically drop to about −20 °C (−4 °F), although sometimes warm spells can push them above −5 °C (23 °F). Humidity stays high throughout the year, especially during the colder months.

Summer in Moscow usually lasts from mid-May to early September, while winter stretches from early November to late March. Even though Moscow is far from the sea, its winters are not as extreme as those in places like Eastern Canada or Siberia at the same latitude. This is because the Atlantic Ocean still has some influence on the region's climate.

Monthly averages and records for Moscow

The highest temperature ever recorded in Moscow was 38.2 °C (100.8 °F) on July 29, 2010. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −42 °C (−44 °F). In 2007, Moscow saw unusually warm temperatures for January, March, and May. In 2008, it was especially warm in December and during the winter months. In November 2010, a new record high for that month was set.

The average yearly temperature in Moscow from 1991 to 2020 was 6.3 °C (43.3 °F), but in recent years—like 2007, 2008, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2025—it has been warmer than 7 °C (45 °F). The year 2025 was the warmest ever recorded, with an average temperature of 8.4 °C (47.1 °F). Even in March and November, temperatures stayed above 0 °C (32 °F).

Monthly precipitation levels are fairly high all year, but they are usually a bit higher in the summer than in the winter. Because of the big difference between winter and summer temperatures and the relatively steady amount of rain, Moscow has a continental climate without a very dry season.

Most of the weather records and averages come from the VVC weather station in the North-Eastern administrative okrug of Moscow. Temperatures recorded there are usually about 0.5–1 °C cooler than in the city center and 0.5–2 °C warmer than the lowest night temperatures in the suburbs.

General characteristics

Moscow experiences cold winters and warm summers. January is the coldest month, with average temperatures around -6 °C, while July is the warmest, averaging about +20 °C. The city receives around 600–700 mm of rain each year, with the most falling in summer and the least in early spring.

Moscow sometimes has fog, and the city’s layout and weather patterns can create differences in temperature between the center and the outskirts. The average amount of sunshine in a year is about 1,731 hours, though this can vary.

Moscow weather stations

Moscow has several weather stations that help track the city's climate. The main one is the Moscow Weather Station at VDNH, which has been operating since 1948 and is located in the north of the city. Another important station is at Moscow State University, which began in 1954 and is in the southwest. There are also stations near the Kremlin, at airports like Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo, and in various other parts of the city. These stations collect valuable data to understand Moscow's weather patterns.

The Seasons

Winter in Moscow can be very cold, with temperatures often dropping below −20 °C. However, there are also periods when it gets warmer, sometimes rising above −5 °C. Snow usually stays on the ground throughout the winter.

Spring in Moscow is unpredictable. March can still feel like winter with frosty temperatures, while sometimes it feels more like spring. April is usually more stable, but May can swing between feeling like summer and having unexpected cold snaps or even snow.

Summer in Moscow is warm, with average high temperatures between +15 °C and +18 °C from June to August. It can get hotter, sometimes reaching +23 °C or more, but this usually doesn’t last long. Summer typically lasts about 108 days, starting in mid-May and ending in early September.

Autumn in Moscow often starts in late August or early September. September can still feel like summer with warm days, but nights become cooler. October usually brings more typical autumn weather, with temperatures dropping and the first snow often appearing in late October or November.

Climate change

In recent decades, Moscow's weather has been getting warmer, especially since the 1970s. The city's average temperature has been rising, and this change may be due to global warming, natural climate cycles, or the city's growth.

The temperature has risen each decade. For example, from 1969 to 1978, the average temperature was about 4.8 °C, but from 2019 to 2028, it is expected to be around 7.3 °C. Some months, like December and January, have warmed up more than others. February used to be very cold, but it has also become warmer in recent years. Overall, Moscow's winters are getting milder, while summers stay about the same.

Wind

Speed of wind

The average wind speed in Moscow is quite high. In the city, it is about 5 metres per second, and in open areas and airports, it can reach up to 6 metres per second.

Wind Storms and Tornadoes

Sometimes, especially from May to September during thunderstorms, wind speeds can go above 15–35 metres per second. The strongest wind storm happened in 1998, with winds as fast as 30–35 metres per second.

Tornadoes have been seen in Moscow and nearby areas in different years, including 1904, 1945, 1970, 1971, 1984, 1987, 1994, 1997, 2005, and 2007.

Сloudiness and day light

Moscow gets about 1,731 hours of sunshine each year. In some years, like 2004 to 2008, it had even more, around 1,800 to 2,000 hours.

The amount of daylight in Moscow changes depending on where it is located. On December 22, the shortest day, there are about 7 hours and 0 minutes of daylight. But on June 22, the longest day, there are about 17 hours and 34 minutes of daylight. The sun is lowest in the sky on December 22, reaching only 11° above the horizon, and highest on June 22, reaching 58°.

Near June 22, around the summer solstice, the sun stays just above the horizon all night. This means there is still some light, called nautical twilight, but it isn’t bright enough for regular activities without artificial lights. Even though the sky looks dark blue and not completely black, Moscow does not have what are called white nights, like some places further south in Russia.