Historic snowfall in Moscow paralyzes the main airport of the Russian capital, Shereméto, and causes unprecedented chaos in air and ground transportation during the country’s peak holiday season.
The international airport Sheremétevo, the most important in Moscow and one of the largest in Eastern Europe, suspended flight operations after a historic snowfall that covered the city with a thick layer of snow. Airport authorities announced a “provisional closure”, although some departures continue in a very limited manner under strict safety protocols.
Flights destined for Sheremétevo are being diverted to other European Russian airports, such as Domodédovo and Vnúkovo, where adverse weather conditions and significant delays are also reported. The priority, according to official statements, is to maintain operational safety amid low visibility and ice on the runways.
Air chaos: thousands of passengers stranded by the historic snowfall
The main Russian airlines, including Aeroflot, Rossía and Poveda, canceled or modified dozens of flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded since Friday afternoon. Many travelers have been unable to collect their luggage and report long queues to rebook tickets or receive clear information about wait times.
Images circulated by local media show entire families, including minors, who slept on the airport floor due to a lack of seats and sufficient accommodation. In some cases, passengers remained for several hours inside already‑landed aircraft, awaiting authorization to disembark and access the overcrowded terminals.
Roads closed and record snow accumulation
The storm not only affects air traffic. Transport authorities were forced to close access roads to Moscow, prompting drivers to evacuate to nearby hotels and shelter centers. The snow accumulation exceeded 30 centimeters in the capital and reached 60 centimeters in other regions, figures that confirm the historic snowfall character for this area.
According to the meteorological center Fobos, the storm concentrates more than 40 % of the monthly average precipitation in just a few hours, becoming the highest level recorded in half a century in Moscow. This phenomenon adds to a series of extreme winters that have impacted Russia and other parts of Europe in recent years.
Massive cleaning operation and pressure from holiday season
To tackle the emergency, municipal authorities deployed 130,000 workers and more than 15,000 snow‑removal machines, working continuously on streets, main avenues and access routes to airports and railway stations. The goal is to restore basic mobility and reduce the risk of accidents due to ice and low visibility.
The situation coincides with the period of holiday celebrations in Russia, when a large part of the population is on vacation and will not resume work until January 12. This schedule aggravates the impact of the historic snowfall on transportation, as millions of people take these days to travel within and outside the country.
Context and possible effects of this historic snowfall
Experts consulted by Russian media note that episodes like this historic snowfall test Moscow’s transport infrastructure, despite being one of the most winter‑adapted in the world. They also warn of the economic impact from flight cancellations, delayed cargo deliveries and increased costs in fuel and cleaning operations.
While authorities call for calm and recommend postponing non‑essential travel, the public hopes the operation will gradually normalize operations at Sheremétevo and on the main routes around Moscow, marking this historic snowfall as one of the most disruptive winter events of recent decades for the Russian capital.
