Moscow Records Highest Temperature in 120 Years... Soars to 34.8°C

Highest June Temperature Record Since 1901
Record Likely to Be Broken Again Due to Persistent Heatwave

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The temperature in Moscow, the capital of Russia, has soared close to 35 degrees Celsius, breaking the highest record in 120 years. This year, Russia has been experiencing the worst heatwave on record since last month due to the effects of global warming.

According to the Russian state-run TASS news agency on the 23rd (local time), the daytime temperature in Moscow rose to 34.8 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous highest June temperature of 34.7 degrees recorded on June 21, 1901. A Moscow Meteorological Agency official explained, "There has never been such heat in June," adding, "It appears to be due to the subtropical high-pressure system extending from the Iranian plateau to western Russia." Due to this abnormal heatwave, TASS reported that Moscow and the nearby Moscow region were issued an 'orange' weather warning, just below the worst 'red' level in the weather risk alert system.

The Russian Meteorological Agency expects the June highest temperature record to be broken again. The agency forecasts that the abnormal heatwave will continue for the next 2 to 3 days, with temperatures in Moscow and surrounding areas rising to between 34 and 36 degrees Celsius.

The abnormal heatwave is being observed in major cities across Russia. Saint Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, also experienced hot weather this month with temperatures reaching 34 degrees Celsius, the highest since 1998. Roman Vilfand, director of the National Meteorological Research Center under the Russian Meteorological Agency, described the abnormal heatwave as "crazy temperatures" and explained that "the heat will continue until the 26th."

This abnormal temperature phenomenon is interpreted as a result of global warming. TASS pointed out that while hot summers with daytime temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius from June to August have often occurred in Russia, it is unusual for temperatures to exceed 30 degrees in early summer during June.