The cyclone "Francis" caused significant snowfall, surpassing the record set in January 1976 (12.9 mm of precipitation) and becoming the heaviest in the last 50 years. Tishkovets noted that it was only 1 mm short of breaking the daily record for January, established back in 1970. "Such heavy precipitation in mid-winter has not been observed in Moscow for 56 years," he added.
As a result of the snowfall, the snow cover in Moscow increased by an average of 23 cm, in Vnukovo by 32 cm, and in Dolgoprudny by 33 cm, where more than 60% of the January norm fell. In the Moscow region, the height of snowdrifts exceeded half a meter for the first time this winter, reaching 51 cm in Cherusty and 39 cm in Balchug, which is 1.5 times higher than the climatic norm for this time of year.
According to Tishkovets' forecasts, a drop in temperature is expected on Saturday and Sunday, and the snowfall will weaken — there will only be minor precipitation with an intensity of no more than 1 mm. However, on Monday, January 12, a cyclone will hit Central Russia again, bringing new snowfall, although its intensity will be lower — no more than 2–7 mm of precipitation.
“The municipal services and residents of Moscow have two days to eliminate the consequences of the elements,” Tishkovets concluded.
