Moscow Plunges to -15.7°C: Winter's Deepest Freeze

The night of December 23 to 24 brought Moscow its coldest temperatures of the current winter season. Thermometers at the VDNH weather station recorded a low of -15.7 degrees Celsius, establishing a new benchmark for the coldest night so far this winter. This significant drop in temperature occurred as predicted, with the coldest period anticipated in the early morning hours before a gradual rise.

This recent cold snap follows another record-setting night, December 22-23, when Moscow experienced its first double-digit frost, reaching -10.7 degrees Celsius. Forecasters indicated that temperatures might climb to around -5 degrees Celsius by Wednesday afternoon. Despite these recent extremes, the current cold is not expected to challenge the all-time record for December.

The historical meteorological data reveals that the coldest December 24 in Moscow occurred in 1892, with temperatures reaching a frigid -37.3 degrees Celsius. In contrast, the warmest December 24 was recorded in 2015, when the mercury rose to a mild 9 degrees Celsius. The current winter's deep freeze, while intense, remains well within the broader historical temperature ranges for the city.