18 May 19:21
A severe thunderstorm that occurred on Sunday night in the capital region was one of the most powerful in recent times. Moscow residents reported strong rumbles of thunder, bright flashes of lightning and intense downpours, accompanied by local flooding.
As Muscovites note on social networks, many woke up at night to loud thunderclaps that “resembled explosions.” According to residents, the booms were unusually sharp and were accompanied by vibrations of windows and walls of houses. In a number of areas of the city, car alarms went off due to the thunderstorm.
According to weather forecasters, the cause of the bad weather was a powerful atmospheric front that formed against the backdrop of abnormally warm weather for May. In some areas of the capital, a significant part of the monthly precipitation fell in a few hours. Heavy rains led to temporary flooding of roads, yards and parking lots.
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Experts note that such weather phenomena are becoming more and more typical for Moscow. After a cold start to May with snow and night frosts, the air temperature in the capital in a few days rose to almost summer values - up to plus 28-30 degrees.
Forecasters explain that the combination of high temperatures and high humidity contributes to the formation of intense thunderstorm fronts. According to them, warm air holds more moisture, which leads to increased showers, thunderstorms and squally winds.
Climatologists are also paying attention to the growing instability of weather conditions in the capital region. Over the past decades, Moscow has experienced an increase in the number of dangerous weather events, including heat waves, record rainfall, severe thunderstorms and extreme temperature changes.
According to preliminary forecasts, the summer of 2026 in the capital may be one of the most contrasting in recent years. Forecasters have not ruled out further heatwaves, thunderstorm fronts and intense downpours, especially in June and July.
