Overview
- Russia’s weather service kept an orange alert in force, forecasting 20–25 mm of precipitation and 25–35 cm of snow growth between 21:00 Jan 8 and 21:00 Jan 9.
- By morning, snow depth measured around 30–32 cm at key Moscow stations, including 31 cm at VDNH, according to Phobos meteorologist Evgeny Tishkovets.
- Tishkovets said snowdrifts in the capital could reach up to 65 cm by evening, with snowfall expected to ease after 21:00; winds gusted to 17 m/s and airport visibility dropped to 500–800 meters.
- The Moscow Region deployed over 28,700 personnel and more than 9,500 machines for road clearing as city services prioritized roads, approaches to social facilities and transport hubs.
- Airports reported operations in planned mode without weather cancellations, schedules may be adjusted for safety, and the rail network moved to enhanced snow-clearing with 112 specialized machines and about 4,500 staff; residents were urged not to block equipment, with towing warned for obstructing vehicles.