Climate of Moscow

Moscow has a warm-summer humid continental climate, meaning it has warm summers and long, cold winters. In the summer months of June, July, and August, temperatures are usually around 20 °C (68 °F). Sometimes, during heat waves, they can get warmer than 23 °C (73 °F). Winter temperatures often drop to about −20 °C (−4 °F), but occasionally they can be as warm as above −5 °C (23 °F). Humidity stays high all year, especially in the colder months.

Summer in Moscow usually runs from mid-May to early September, and winter lasts from early November to late March. Even though Moscow is far from the sea, its winters are not as harsh as in places like Eastern Canada or Siberia. This is because the Atlantic Ocean still affects the area'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 had unusually warm temperatures in 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 has cold winters and warm summers. January is the coldest month, with average temperatures around -6 °C. July is the warmest month, averaging about +20 °C.

The city gets about 600–700 mm of rain each year. Most rain falls in summer, and the least falls in early spring.

Moscow sometimes has fog. The city's layout and weather patterns can cause temperature differences between the center and the outskirts. Moscow gets an average of about 1,731 hours of sunshine each year, 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 below −20 °C. Sometimes it gets warmer, above −5 °C. Snow usually stays on the ground all winter.

Spring in Moscow can change a lot. March may still feel like winter with cold temperatures. April is usually more steady, but May can feel like summer one day and cold the next, sometimes even with 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 up to +23 °C or more, but this doesn’t last long. Summer usually 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 during the day, but nights get cooler. October usually brings autumn weather, with temperatures dropping and the first snow often arriving 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. 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 high. In the city, it is about 5 metres per second. 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 very fast winds.

Tornadoes have been seen in Moscow and nearby areas in different years.

Сloudiness and day light

Moscow gets about 1,731 hours of sunshine each year. In some years, 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 of daylight. But on June 22, the longest day, there are about 17 hours of daylight. The sun is lowest in the sky on December 22, and highest on June 22.

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, Moscow does not have what are called white nights, like some places further south in Russia.