Russia Heat Wave Ends, Moscow Cools to 70s
Cooling blowing through Moscow on Thursday swept away the last of the withering heat that beset the Russian heartland for about eight weeks.
On Wednesday, yet another record high, the 23rd of this record-shattering Russian summer, was toppled in Moscow as the temperature soared to 33.2 C, or 92 F.
Wednesday's record high was the 11th such weather record rewritten so far in August 2010.
Earlier summer record highs numbered two in June and 10 in July.
Along with Wednesday's shot of record-breaking heat came another dose of smog and haze in Moscow, albeit thinner than the choking smoke that at times shrouded the city during the worst of the heat.
Wednesday should be the last of the days wherein serious smog and bad air quality, not to mention 90-degree heat, is a concern for Moscovites this summer.
With the turn in weather, the worst heat in more than 100 years and aggravated by withering drought, was sent packing in the Russian heartland.
Low pressure tracking eastward over northern Russia has been dragging a cold front eastward from Belarus and Ukraine to the lower Volga River valley, thereby shaving temperatures by about 20 degrees in its wake.
In Moscow, this turn in the weather was being felt in earnest on Thursday, as the afternoon temperature hovered in the low 70s, or about 20 F lower than Wednesday's high.
Still cooler days, even some much-needed rain, will follow through the end of the week, as a moderately cool air mass settles throughout the region.
Andrei Savelyev, 46, stands at the site of his house that was burnt down during the forest fires, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, in the village of Yuzhny, in the Nizhny Novgorod region, some 300 kilometers (187.5 miles) east of Moscow. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)
Below-normal daily temperatures will occur in Moscow as early as Friday; if so, it would be the first instance of below-normal temperature in the city since the summer began.
This relief from the heat will be welcome news to people across the region, which has suffered from widespread wildfires, major crop losses and water supply tightness.
Health effects have been substantial, as the Associated Press has reported that deaths have doubled to 700 people a day, many of which are believed to be related to the smog that has enveloped the region from hundreds of wildfires fueled by the heat and extreme drought.
Since June 1, Moscow has recorded only half of their normal rainfall.
Heat, drought and fire have also caused Russian officials to ban the export of wheat grains after reports that up to 40 percent of the potential grain harvest has been lost.
July was the warmest month on record in Moscow as the city recorded an average temperature of 77.8, an astounding 15 degrees above normal. August has followed suit, with temperatures running 17.9 degrees F above normal so far.
On July 29, the mercury in Moscow exceeded the 100-degree mark for the first time in 130 years of records.
AccuWeather.com Staff Writers Gina Cherundolo and Carly Porter contributed to the content of this story.
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