Late-season snowstorm leaves 3 dead and over 76 000 without power in central and northwestern Russia
A late-season snowstorm swept across central and northwestern Russia on April 27–28, 2026, leaving three people dead and cutting electricity to more than 76 000 residents, according to regional authorities and the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry. Strong winds reaching up to 97 km/h (60 mph) combined with wet snow to damage infrastructure and disrupt transport, including in Moscow.
Satellite image acquired at 13:15 UTC on April 27, 2026. Credit: EUMETSAT/Meteosat, Zoom Earth, The Watchers
A severe storm system moved across parts of Russia on April 27, bringing wet snow and sustained strong winds that affected multiple administrative areas across western Russia.
Wind gusts reached up to 97 km/h (60 mph) in the Samara region, where Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev reported three fatalities after falling trees struck individuals during the storm. In Moscow, gusts reached 83 km/h (52 mph), with icy conditions and reduced visibility disrupting transport and outdoor operations.
Power outages spread across several regions, leaving more than 76 000 residents without electricity, according to the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry. The Novgorod region reported outages across 12 districts, with over 2 000 residents affected locally as repair crews worked to restore supply.
Damage was concentrated in populated areas where wet snow and strong winds brought down more than 740 trees and damaged over 80 vehicles. Fallen trees and debris blocked transport routes and disrupted tram operations in several locations.
Moscow authorities placed city services on high alert, closing most parks and suspending electric scooter rentals and car-sharing services using summer tires. Rail services and airport operations experienced delays, and residents were advised to avoid unnecessary travel.
Hydrometcenter reported 16 mm (0.6 inches) of overnight precipitation on April 27 and 12 cm (4.7 inches) of snow depth at Moscow’s VDNKh station. The Moscow State University station recorded 21 mm (0.8 inches) of overnight precipitation and 14 cm (5.5 inches) of snow depth, while Dmitrov recorded 22 mm (0.9 inches) and 15 cm (5.9 inches).
Phobos forecaster Mikhail Leus reported that the 16 mm (0.6 inches) measured overnight at VDNKh exceeded the previous April 27 daily precipitation value of 14.7 mm (0.6 inches), set in 1880. Leus also reported 12 cm (4.7 inches) of snow cover in Moscow was above the previous 10 cm (3.9 inches) value for the date.
In the Leningrad and Pskov regions, outages began on April 26, with restoration efforts returning service to approximately 70% of affected consumers.
Late-April snowstorms of this scale fall outside the typical seasonal decline of winter hazards in the region, where conditions generally transition toward snowmelt and spring hydrological processes.
References:
1 Rare April Snowstorm Shatters Record in Moscow, Leaves At Least 3 Dead in Samara – Moscow Times – April 27, 2026
2 Roundup: Nationwide snowstorm in Russia leaves 3 dead, tens of thousands without power – Xinhua – April 28, 2026
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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