Warm winter temperatures break record in Moscow

Unusually warm temperatures have changed winter life in Russia's capital: the abnormal spell of warm weather due to Atlantic cyclones blocks the start of the ski season and postpones flooding of the city rinks with water.

As in spring, willows have started blossoming in some Moscow districts and the snow has fully disappeared from city roads being cleaned after the thaw.

The main Christmas attraction - a 7-metre high,100-metre long ice slide - has melted in central Moscow just four days after having been opened, the mayor’s office said.

A note at the entrance to the slide reads that "due to the warm weather the attraction is closed and it is unsafe to climb up there." The ice clock installed nearby is also melting.

But nature awakening has not disturbed hibernating bears at Moscow city zoo. "They have the deepest sleep and they will hibernate for around 1.5 months and will not get out of their warm lairs in the enclosures," keepers reported.

Warm weather has already beaten two temperature records and new records are expected this week. Russia’s meteorologists say the temperature in Moscow on Tuesday will be reach 5-7 degrees Celsius above zero (41-44 degrees Fahrenheit) compared with around 9 degrees Celsius on Monday.

The record high temperature for December 22 was seen in 1936 - 4.4 degrees Celsius.
  [tass.ru]  
  21/12/15
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