Russia swelters in heatwave, Moscow breaks 1917 record for early July
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
In Moscow, where temperatures can fall to minus 40 deg C during winter, the mercury rose to 32.7 deg C on July 3.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Follow topic:
MOSCOW – Russians were braving some of the hottest weather seen in more than a century on July 4, with Moscow breaking a 1917 record and cities across the world’s biggest country sizzling in temperatures well above 35 deg C.
In the capital Moscow, where temperatures can fall to minus 40 deg C in the legendary Russian winter, the mercury rose to 32.7 deg C on July 3, breaking the 1917 record for that day by 0.5 deg C, according to the Fobos meteorological centre.
Records were broken from Russia’s Pacific coast and the wilds of Siberia to the European parts of Russia, Fobos added.
The hot weather triggered soaring demand for air-conditioners and fans, while Muscovites guzzled record amounts of ice cream and downed cold beverages.
Water was handed out to passengers in the metro and on many trains.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin urged the residents of the city’s metropolitan area, which has a population of well above 20 million, to take precautions and avoid going outside at the hottest times of the day.
“During the day, the air temperature will exceed the climatic norm and rise above 30 deg C again,” Mr Sobyanin said.
He said thunderstorms were forecast for July 5 and there was a possibility of hail.
REUTERS
