Unseasonably warm weather has enveloped Moscow this January, igniting blooming flowers and altering the traditional winter experience for its residents. Muscovites usually associate January with snow-covered sidewalks and icy chill—yet, this year, temperatures have soared above freezing, compelling snowdrops to emerge from the ground near Christmas trees standing resiliently.
Rather than the usual icy grip of 'moroz'—the harsh cold known to sting faces—Moscow's streets are bare, with even Siberia experiencing similar mild conditions, and climate patterns reflecting global trends. According to Europe’s climate agency Copernicus, the first 27 days of 2025 have recorded as the hottest for this period since 1940. On average, these days are 0.11 degrees Celsius warmer than those at the beginning of 2024, previously the hottest start to the year.
Johan Rockström, director at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, attributed these extremes to human-induced climate change. He stated, "And we see this across the board. It is impossible today to disentangle the human influence on these events. It’s never we cause them entirely, but we amplify them and make them worse.” The sentiment echoes across various regions as multiple extreme weather events take their toll worldwide.
Reports from Russia’s Hydrometeorological Research Center confirm significant temperature highs, with Roman Vilfand, the agency's head of research, noting, "January could become the warmest on record in the country.” The previous record was set back in 2020 with average monthly temperatures hovering at zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit).
This dramatic change has disrupted customary winter festivities. For example, during the Orthodox feast of the Epiphany, many traditional celebrations were suspended due to unsafe conditions posed by thin ice on local lakes and rivers. Even the iconic Lake Baikal is experiencing delayed ice formation, notorious for typically solidifying quickly enough to support vehicles.
Moscow meteorologist Leonid Starkov offered additional insight, indicating the influence of warm Atlantic air pushing through the region, leading to what he labeled as “a significant temperature anomaly.” Starkov added, “So the winter is in question, even in Siberia.” This anomaly reinforces concerns over changing weather norms.
One telling sign of the anomalous weather conditions appeared not far from Moscow State University, where the absence of snow free up snowdrops—a delicate spring flower—that typically waits for later months to bloom. Vladimir Chub, who directs the university's botanical gardens, commented, "It’s not uncommon to see these flowers ‘in February, in March, during the thaw,’ but this year the university ‘got lucky’ to have them blossom earlier.” The blooming flowers against the backdrop of winter architecture like the Stalin-era buildings reflect both hope and confusion.
Yulia, a Muscovite simply reflecting off her winter observation, voiced the question on many minds: “I’m asking myself — where is the winter?” A poignant reminder of how climate changes not only the environment but also alter personal experiences and memories tied to the season.
With Moscow experiencing such warm weather, it raises significant questions about how drastically climate change can shift nature’s patterns and the consequences for future winter traditions. The warmth serves as both stark evidence of shifting climates and as markers of changes facing communities worldwide. A city traditionally characterized by its frosty climate must now grapple with the uncertain perception of winter itself, as both nature and culture potentially shift under the pressure of rising temperatures.