Russia Climate

Climate of Russia

Due to its vast area, great diversity of landscape and relief, Russia is influenced by several climatic varieties. Most of the territory is dominated by temperate and subarctic climate varieties. Smaller areas experience tundra, mountain and subtropical Mediterranean climates.

Much of the country is covered by a temperate continental climate, which is characterized by distinctly consecutive seasons. Summers (June-August) are usually warm and sunny, while winters (December-February) are cold and snow-laden. On the other hand, spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are transitional months that can surprise with both plenty of sunshine and cloudy, cold days. We can distinguish two types of this climate: humid and dry.

A temperate continental climate of the humid variety is found in the central part of the country (Kaliningrad, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Irkutsk). In summer, the days are long and warm, with temperatures ranging from 20°C - 26°C, and heat waves reaching 30°C also occur. Annual precipitation is 600 mm - 800 mm, and the highest precipitation is also in summer. In some places located in the north, near the Arctic Circle, it is possible to see the phenomenon of "white nights", when the sun does not hide behind the horizon. In winter, on the other hand, the pillar of the mercury drops from -10°C to -5°C, with frequent frosts reaching -20°C. In addition, the situation is aggravated by the wind causing the perceived temperature to be much lower. Snowfall is a common occurrence, lasting for several months. Spring and autumn are unpredictable, it can be sunny and reasonably warm or cool and rainy. In late autumn or early spring, some areas still have snow, and temperatures remain at 0°C.

In contrast, a temperate continental climate of the dry variety appears in the southern part of Russia (including Saratov, Volgograd) and in steppe areas (Kazakh Steppe, Pontic Steppe). The weather is similar to that of a humid temperate continental climate. A capricious aura characterizes autumn and spring, with summers warm and sunny and winters cold and snowy. Only summer temperatures are a few degrees higher and rainfall is much less frequent and less intense, about 400 mm per year.

The monsoon variety of temperate climate can be observed on the eastern and southeastern coasts (including Seaside Country, Vladivostok). The area is under the influence of the East Asian monsoon, resulting in summers that are usually warm, but humid and rainy. Temperatures hover around 20°C, but hotter days also occur. Cloudiness and precipitation are equally common, with annual rainfall of up to 850 mm. The winter months are cheerful but cold, usually from -14°C to -8°C. Snow falls frequently, but not heavily, and the thin snow cover that develops does not last very long.

Also, the subarctic climate covers a huge part of Russia: the north, areas beyond the Arctic Circle and most of the Asian part of the country (including Arkhangelsk, Kizha, Siberia, Yakutsk, Magdan, Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands). These areas are characterized by cool summers with temperatures as low as 10°C - 16°C. Sometimes there are warmer days, where the mercury column reaches 20°C, but this usually takes place in the interior of the continent. Winters, on the other hand, last a very long time and are extremely harsh. They start as early as late autumn and end in early spring (November-March), temperatures can drop to -20°C then. Eastern Siberia is even more frigid, with localities there (including Ojmiakon, Verkhoyansk, Tomtor) experiencing frosts as low as -50°C. Precipitation is average (300 mm - 600 mm) and distributed throughout the year, with snow in winter, which persists before long months.

In contrast, the northern reaches of Russia and the islands of the Arctic Ocean (including Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya, and the Novosibirsk Islands) have a tundra climate, where temperatures below 0°C occur for up to ten months of the year. The mercury column then reaches -10°C to -20°C, creating permafrost. Frosts ranging from -40°C to -30°C can be experienced on the islands of the northeastern coast (such as Wrangel Island) and those closer to the Arctic Circle. Precipitation is not abundant (about 150 mm - 300 mm per year) and usually occurs in winter in the form of snow. Summers are mild with temperatures reaching up to 10°C, days are then long but often cloudy. Melting snows create marshes, lakes and streams. As in the subarctic climate, the phenomenon of polar nights and days can be observed in areas near the Arctic Circle.

A subtropical Mediterranean climate characterizes the Black Sea regions (Novorossiysk, Sochi). The winter months there are remarkably mild, the temperature oscillates around 10°C, only the nights are sometimes a bit colder. In summer the weather is good, it is sunny and hot, and the mercury bar rises to 25°C - 30°C. Even in late spring (May) and early autumn (October) the temperature reaches 20°C. Rainfall occurs all year round, although it intensifies in the winter months and amounts to about 1,500 mm per year.

Mountain climate is characterized by mountainous regions (including the Caucasus, Altai, Urals), where the weather depends on the altitude of the area above sea level. The higher it is, the lower the temperature and the higher the precipitation. The highest parts of the mountains are cold and snowy all year round. Strong winds, fog and cloud cover are common in the mountains. The change in temperature with altitude also causes an overstory of plants.