Moscow was covered with snowdrifts – Kommersant FM

Eliminating the consequences of snowfall in Moscow will take several days. The National Association for Winter Road Maintenance told Kommersant FM about this. Heavy rainfall began in the capital region on the afternoon of February 7, and according to forecasters, snowdrifts in Moscow could grow to a record size in 25 years. In 1999, the snow depth was 58 cm.

On three major highways near Moscow, Kievskoye Highway, M4 and M8, yesterday due to a snowstorm there were massive accidents involving more than 50 cars. At least one person was killed and another 20 were injured. Given the predicted amount of precipitation, it will not be possible to quickly cope with the consequences of bad weather, says Yulia Antonova, executive director of the National Association for Winter Road Maintenance:

“Moscow, of course, has the highest level of equipment and anti-ice agents; technologies for winter road maintenance and regulations have been specially developed. But the provision of equipment, resources and personnel comes from average statistical standards, that is, there must be a certain amount of equipment and people per day. But 25% of the monthly norm should fall within a week, but in our country this precipitation falls within a few hours, which means problems arise both with equipment and with people.

First of all, the main highways, intersections, the busiest highways and dangerous sections of roads will be removed; equipment there will work in three shifts. Secondary roads, of course, will suffer greatly, because they will be the last to receive equipment.

Work will also be carried out to remove snow, but since the volume is very large, snow melting complexes are unlikely to have time to receive all the snow in time. According to GOST, timely cleaning and removal of snow within 24 hours is allowed. But we need to realistically assess the amount of work, so most likely it will take a little longer; clearing and removing snow from the main highways will take up to two days. On secondary roads, according to GOST, up to a week is allowed.”

Snow in the capital region may fall until almost noon on Thursday, February 8, and then it will be replaced by frosts, warns the head of the Meteo forecast center, Alexander Shuvalov: “The temperature will begin to gradually decrease, and by 9:00–12:00 it will reach -14…-15 degrees. On Friday the frost is expected to be -15…-18 degrees, and on the weekend, when everyone plans to take a walk outside, the temperature will drop to 17-20 degrees below 0, in the morning it will be even colder.

This snowfall will cover the ground by another 5-10 cm, and the height of the snowdrifts in Moscow will reach 55-60 cm. After this, we will have four to five days of very cold weather with a negative temperature anomaly reaching -10…-12 degrees.”

According to the forecast of the Hydrometeorological Center, snow will return to Moscow by Monday. Severe frosts will recede, and on the night of February 12, thermometers in the city will show 12 degrees below 0. During the day, cloudy weather and temperatures from -5 to -10 degrees are expected.

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Vladimir Rasulov