Russia has been gripped by some of the worst heatwaves in more than a century, with in Moscow today a record from 1917 was broken. Temperatures in a number of cities in the largest country in the world exceeded 35 degrees Celsius, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
In Moscow, where temperatures can drop to minus 40 degrees Celsius in winter, the mercury soared to 32.7 degrees Celsius on July 3, beating the 1917 record for that day by half a degree. reported the meteorological center FOBOS.
Records were broken from the Pacific coast of Russia and Siberia to the European parts of Russia, FOBOS said. The hot weather caused a sharp increase in demand for air conditioners and fans, and Muscovites gobbled up record amounts of ice cream and cold drinks. Water was distributed to passengers on the subway and in many trains.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin urged residents of the metropolis, whose population is well over 20 million people, to take precautions and avoid going outside during the hottest hours of the day.
"During the day, the air temperature will exceed the climatic norm and rise above 30 degrees again," Sobyanin said. He said thunderstorms are forecast for tomorrow and there is a chance of hail.