Storm 'Banya' Brings Blizzard
Severe Traffic Congestion Due to Accumulating Snow Despite Clearing
Due to a severe blizzard brought by a storm, unprecedented heavy snowfall occurred in Moscow, Russia. The snowfall far exceeded the previous record for the highest snowfall in Moscow, with about 50 cm of snow accumulating in some areas within a single day.
According to reports from TASS and Interfax on the 15th (local time), the storm "Vanya," which formed over Eastern Europe the previous day, reached Moscow, Russia, causing this heavy snowfall.
Evgeny Tishkovets, a senior meteorologist at the weather center "Phobos," stated, "The snow accumulated in Moscow on the 15th reached 49 cm," adding, "This is an unprecedented snow accumulation in over 150 years of meteorological observations." The 49 cm snowfall was recorded at the Moscow State University observatory. The snowfall at the VDNKh observatory in northern Moscow was recorded at 38 cm, 11 cm less than the university observatory. However, both locations far exceeded the previous highest snowfall in Moscow of 32 cm recorded in 1919. Tishkovets added, "One-fifth of the monthly precipitation for December in Moscow fell in just one day."
Due to the persistent snow that did not diminish even after clearing, Moscow suffered severe traffic congestion that day. On the M4 southern highway, one of Russia's major roads, a traffic jam stretching 10 km formed, causing drivers to be trapped on the road in subzero temperatures. Additionally, cars parked on the streets were buried under the heavy snow, and delivery workers and food couriers found it difficult to operate bicycles or motorcycles due to the accumulated snow. In response, the Moscow Department of Transportation urged citizens to refrain from driving and to use public transportation.
On the 15th (local time), citizens of Moscow, Russia, are passing by a snow-covered car. [Photo by EPA Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, Moscow was also put on alert earlier this month due to heavy snowfall.
According to the Moscow weather observatory, on the 3rd, 10.7 mm of snowfall accumulated within 12 hours, surpassing the previous highest snowfall for December 3rd of 9.4 mm recorded in 1980. Snowfall amount is typically one-tenth of the snow depth. In response, authorities deployed more than 135,000 personnel and over 18,000 special vehicles to carry out snow removal operations.
At that time, the heavy snowfall caused vehicle speeds in Moscow city to drop to an average of 26 km/h, and more than 70 flights to and from Moscow were delayed or canceled. Additionally, Siberian temperatures dropped unusually low for early winter, reaching between minus 50 and minus 57 degrees Celsius.
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