Snow Chaos in Moscow: Around 140 Flights Canceled and Delayed
Cyclone “Valli” Disrupts Operations at the Capital’s Airports
Moscow has come under the influence of Cyclone “Valli”, which brought heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions to the city. Around 140 flights were canceled or delayed on February 19 at the capital’s airports. Snowfall is expected to continue throughout the day and night, with total precipitation reaching up to 60% of the monthly average, Kommersant reports. The Hydrometeorological Center had earlier warned of deteriorating weather conditions and reduced visibility of 1–2 km.
Disruptions at Sheremetyevo
The most serious schedule disruptions have been recorded at Sheremetyevo Airport. Departures of 18 flights and arrivals of 15 have been delayed. In addition, 53 flights have been canceled, including routes to St. Petersburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Ufa, and other Russian cities. Passengers are being forced to adjust their travel plans.
Based on prior experience operating under extreme snowfall, airport management decided to temporarily reduce the number of operations: on February 19 to 25 per hour from 07:00 to 23:59 (Moscow time), and on February 20 to 18 per hour from 00:00 to 04:59. Airlines operating flights to Sheremetyevo are informing passengers about temporary schedule changes.
Situation at Vnukovo and Domodedovo
At Vnukovo Airport, delays have been recorded for 30 aircraft. Disruptions have affected routes to Dubai, Ankara, Istanbul, Fergana, and Sochi. A Turkish airline has canceled two daytime flights.
At Domodedovo, one departure did not take place, and the arrival of six aircraft from Ulan-Ude, Irkutsk, and Dubai has been delayed. The situation here remains more stable compared to other Moscow airports, although schedule adjustments persist.
What Is Happening on Moscow’s Roads
The snowfall has complicated traffic conditions on major city highways. Congestion is rated at 7 out of 10, compared to 5–6 in the morning. Forecasters warn that it may increase to 9 as precipitation intensifies. Hundreds of snow-removal vehicles have been deployed across the city.
According to Msk1, trucks are stalled on the Moscow Ring Road, and tram services are operating with difficulties due to snow accumulation. In southern Moscow, the roof of an ice rink collapsed. The facility was not operating at the time of the incident, and no injuries were reported.
Authorities are advising residents to use public transportation whenever possible in order to reduce pressure on the road network.
Weather Forecast
Yevgeny Tishkovets, a leading specialist at the Phobos weather center, noted that 20–25 mm of precipitation may fall within 24 hours, and snowdrifts could reach 80 cm, approaching record levels last seen in 1966. The Hydrometeorological Center has warned of heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions with visibility reduced to 1–2 km.
Marina Makarova, another leading specialist at the institution, believes nighttime temperatures in Moscow may drop to –15°C, and to –13°C in the surrounding region. During the day, temperatures could fall further to –18°C. Snow is expected to continue for 24 hours, with total precipitation reaching about 60% of the monthly norm.
Conclusion
Analysts at International Investment note that this winter Moscow has already faced several large-scale snowstorms affecting transportation and urban infrastructure. Such weather events lead to flight cancellations and delays, increased road congestion, and additional strain on municipal services.
In the aviation sector, disruptions at the capital’s airports affect not only domestic routes but also international flights, creating a domino effect across the entire transportation network. Geopolitical tensions and periodic airspace alerts further complicate operations, making disruptions at Moscow terminals more frequent. As a result, many tourists and business travelers avoid flying through the Russian capital or allow extra time for their journeys.