Russian Winter

[Diane_W]

Interesting weather story from the BBC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7783485.stm

[Michael Fishermans Friend]

Been keeping a track on the Moscow weather and this Autumn/winter has been exceedingly mild, at the begining of this month temps for a while in the capital were between 7-8c when they should be averaging nearer -3c, and it is only of recent days they have fallen closer to normal. A trend which is becoming more apparent over recent years, when we have experienced an easterly it just hasn't had the bite to it.

Let's hope the cooling trend continues in Siberia/Russia so if by miracle we do get an easterly in a month or so's time it will be quite a bit colder than a Pharoahs sock! :o

[Methuselah]

I believe that it has everything to do with synoptics and nothing to do with global warming...When in 1976, we were basking in 32C+ for weeks, parts of Russia were experiencing sleet showers at 6C! Sometime soon, I expect (hope for?)a southward plunge of very cold air which should put an end to Moscow's relative warmth???

[trickydicky]

The trouble and strife is from Hungary so I compulsively check the weather in Budapest everyday. It has been way warmer over there this autumn and winter than normal, you would usually expect it to be knocking on -10 at night by now but its not even below freezing. Apparantly its a common feature now that the cold and snow comes much later than in the past. The other day I remarked to her cousin, who is going over there on xmas day, that at least he will get a white xmas. He said not anymore but they used to be guaranteed.

[Optimus Prime]

it's been extremely cold in eastern Russia and Siberia;

(yesterdays anomaly)

However it doesn't look as if any of that will be spreading east anytime soon. If anything that cold pooling looks set to drift much more eastwards and loose some intensity. 

Moscow will continue relatively mild (still though with daytime maxes around -3c)

[cyclonic happiness]

Why are the BBC making such a fuss about some NICE mild weather in western russia ,when 2 years ago they were complaining about this........................................

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/jan/18/russia.weather

Also, if the bears are still awake in russia, it can olny be good in the long term as they are still able to hunt and build up fat reserves for the winter proper.

I should imagine that alot of other species would be awake too for them to hunt, after all, they are not stupid animals? maybe we are the fools for making too much of something we cannot/will never be able to understand?

This endless banging on about global warming, be it man made or not, is really starting to annoy people now.

It's about time they found something else to annoy us with..........oh! wait! they have!!......CREDIT CRUNCH (horrid term).

Edited December 16, 2008 by cyclonic happiness

[Roger J Smith]

Some interesting anomalies so far in Siberia.

There is a persistent area of anomalous cold around Lake Baikal, but so far this has been associated only with weak high pressure centres in the 1020-1030 mb range. This is showing signs of expanding to more normal levels of 1040-1050 mbs. But the degree of cold has been more typical of late January than early December in that region.

Meanwhile, far eastern Siberia and western Alaska have been mild in a persistent southerly flow. At present it is as mild as -2 or -3 C around the Bering Strait and some distance to the west as a low tracks slowly north near 165 E.

The other centre of anomalous cold has been over Yukon and NWT with northern BC and most of Alberta included in recent weeks. This arctic air mass is potent for early to mid December and has featured stronger high pressure centres that have topped off near 1060 mbs recently.

I would expect a slow retrogression of the central Siberian cold and persistence of the anomalous warmth near the Bering Strait, with continued strength of the n.w. Canada arctic air mass source. Eventually the west Siberian and then Russian high should begin to edge into Scandinavia and this could help promote a renewed cold spell for the UK in January. However this will be a slow process and could take about two or three weeks beyond the FI portion of the GFS at present although the 18z output was trending in this direction.