Weather in Russia
Weather in Russia is nearly as varied as the country is large, and expats will need to further research the patterns present in their specified destination to get a better idea of what to expect.
That said, extreme cold is by far the most consistent and outstanding characteristic of the country’s climate, with frost-free months numbering only between three and six across the board. Snowfall varies depending on location, but even in the warmer South snow cover lasts from 60 to 80 days per year.
Technically, Russia’s climate is predominately continental, though the North is heavily influenced by its proximity to the Arctic, and the southern parts of the Far East are tempered by the Pacific Ocean.
The climate gets more severe the farther one moves East, and as expat oil workers may discover, Siberia has harsh, long, bitterly cold winters. European Russia, on the other hand, is privy to more of a maritime climate, with warm, albeit short summers, and a decent amount of humidity. Still though, in this area the average temperature is below freezing.
Autumn (October to November) and spring (April to May), though pleasant, are fleeting, and summers, are only slightly longer, and hot.
What you may not realise before you arrive in Russia is that while the weather outside may be frightful, Russian interiors are incredibly warm in the winter.
Heat is provided from a central location, and is not in any way something you can control. Expats joke that the heat is turned on in the autumn and off in the spring by an arbitrary calendar date, but Russians will tell you that recent temperature highs and lows are, in fact, considered.
And while you will certainly need warm clothing to wear outside in the winter, you may find your apartment (and most city-dwellers do live in apartments) so warm that comfort requires a combination of t-shirts and shorts; opening windows in January and using your air conditioning isn’t unheard of.
Layers are generally advised, while warm boots with a non-slip sole and a heavy, windproof jacket are a must.
Expats will debate whether it is better to buy winter clothing at home (where prices may be better and you can shop on-line and in English) or in Russia. Yes, it may be harder to find bargains in Russia, but the Russians certainly know how to keep warm, and do it stylishly.
Women's outwear is both functional and feminine: much prettier than the down-filled, hand-grenade look. And if you are not opposed to wearing fur, this is definitely the place to find it and wear it.
That said, extreme cold is by far the most consistent and outstanding characteristic of the country’s climate, with frost-free months numbering only between three and six across the board. Snowfall varies depending on location, but even in the warmer South snow cover lasts from 60 to 80 days per year.
Technically, Russia’s climate is predominately continental, though the North is heavily influenced by its proximity to the Arctic, and the southern parts of the Far East are tempered by the Pacific Ocean.
The climate gets more severe the farther one moves East, and as expat oil workers may discover, Siberia has harsh, long, bitterly cold winters. European Russia, on the other hand, is privy to more of a maritime climate, with warm, albeit short summers, and a decent amount of humidity. Still though, in this area the average temperature is below freezing.
Autumn (October to November) and spring (April to May), though pleasant, are fleeting, and summers, are only slightly longer, and hot.
Dressing for the weather in Russia
What you may not realise before you arrive in Russia is that while the weather outside may be frightful, Russian interiors are incredibly warm in the winter.
Heat is provided from a central location, and is not in any way something you can control. Expats joke that the heat is turned on in the autumn and off in the spring by an arbitrary calendar date, but Russians will tell you that recent temperature highs and lows are, in fact, considered.
And while you will certainly need warm clothing to wear outside in the winter, you may find your apartment (and most city-dwellers do live in apartments) so warm that comfort requires a combination of t-shirts and shorts; opening windows in January and using your air conditioning isn’t unheard of.
Layers are generally advised, while warm boots with a non-slip sole and a heavy, windproof jacket are a must.
Expats will debate whether it is better to buy winter clothing at home (where prices may be better and you can shop on-line and in English) or in Russia. Yes, it may be harder to find bargains in Russia, but the Russians certainly know how to keep warm, and do it stylishly.
Women's outwear is both functional and feminine: much prettier than the down-filled, hand-grenade look. And if you are not opposed to wearing fur, this is definitely the place to find it and wear it.
Russia climate charts
