Climatic conditions over the territory of Russia.

The year 2005 in Russia was very warm. The anomaly of the mean annual air temperature averaged over the Russian territory was 1.6⁰C, which is the second among the highest values in the period since 1936 up to now (Fig.1).

Fig.1. Anomalies of mean annual air temperatures averaged over the Russian territory for the period 1936-2005.

Weather and climate conditions over the Russian territory are spatially inhomogeneous and of clearly pronounced regional character that is connected with several climatic zones on the Russian territory and various natural conditions.

Weather in 2005 was analyzed for the whole of the Russian territory and for seven quasi-homogeneous climatic regions (I – the northern part of European Russia and Western Siberia, II – the northern part of Eastern Siberia and Yakutia, III – Chukotka and Kamchatka, IV – the central and southern parts of European Russia, V – the central and southern parts of Western Siberia, VI the central and southern parts of Eastern Siberia, VII – the Far East.)

Fig.2. Anomalies (deviations from values averaged over the period 1961-1990) of mean winter air temperatures (December 2006-February 2005) averaged over quasi-homogeneous climatic regions for the period 1936-2005.

The winter temperatures in 2004-2005 in European Russia were above long-term means. The cold weather recorded in Asian Russia in December 2004 and cold February in the south of Siberia explain the obtained negative temperature anomalies for the whole of the winter (Fig.2) in the south and the centre of Siberia (regions V and VI).

January temperatures in the whole of Russia were above normal. Particularly warm weather was recorded in the northeast of the European territory, where mean monthly temperature anomalies were above 8⁰C. In the central regions anomalies also reached 7⁰C. In Moscow, January temperatures in 2005 ranked third among the highest temperatures for the entire period of record. During 1 to 25 January, warm weather persisted: anomalies of daily air temperatures were 5-13⁰C. Absolute maximums were exceeded on 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14 of January. The highest air temperature, 5.2⁰C, was recorded on 9 January. In Moscow, one more record was broken in January – precipitation amount (98 mm, which is 232% of the monthly norm). In the Rostov Region and the Krasnodar Territory, heavy snowfalls in the first and third ten-day periods caused adherence of wet snow to 88 mm in diameter and glaze. On 8-9 January, a severe Atlantic cyclone, that caused a lot of troubles in Europe, hit the northwest of Russia. The Kaliningrad and Pskov regions were affected by storm wind (20-26 m/s). In St-Petersburg, strong wind from the Baltic Sea produced surge that caused the 210-220-cm rise in the Neva water level.

Sometimes air temperatures in the north of Asian Russia was higher than those in the south of the region. Mean monthly temperature anomalies on the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District were above 8⁰C. At meteorological station Turukhansk, the mean daily air temperature on 12 January was -5.5⁰C, which is 21.5⁰C above normal. In the third ten-day period, the Novosibirsk and Kemerovo regions and the Altai Territory experienced temperatures as low as -33…-38⁰C and the Republic of Altai, -40…-47⁰C.

The anomalies of mean February air temperatures attained 10⁰C in the north of European Russia and in autonomous districts of Western Siberia. Strong northeasterly wind, bore (35-38 m/s), attacked Novorossiisk on 4-6 February. February was cold in the south of Siberia. Particularly strong frosts persisted in Altai from 15 to 18 February, with the temperature being as low as -40…-43⁰C. True Siberian frosts (-35…-40⁰C) were recorded on 14-19 February in the central and southern regions of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and in Khakasia. In the Tuva hollow, air temperatures attained -48⁰C. The Republic of Tuva has not experienced such severe and long-lasting frosts for the past 20 years. In the first ten-day period, heavy frosts were recorded in Trans-Baikal, where air temperature dropped to -38…-44⁰C. In early February, heavy snowfalls and snowstorms were recorded in Kamchatka that threaten avalanching. In the second and third ten-day periods, southern cyclones brought heavy snowfalls and snowstorms to Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.

Spring average temperature conditions in European Russia and the Far East were close to normal (Fig.3). The cold early spring was compensated by very warm April and May.

March in the entire territory of European Russia was a truly winter month: it was very cold everywhere. In absolute value, maximum negative anomalies of mean monthly air temperature were recorded in the Nenets Autonomous District, the Arkhangelsk Region and the Republic of Komi (-5…-6⁰C). In the central and western regions, mean monthly air temperatures proved to be 3-4⁰C below normal. Very much precipitation was recorded in the eastern regions of European Russia and in the Urals: in the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions and the Republic of Bashkortostan, the monthly precipitation norm was exceeded more than threefold. Heavy snowfalls in Kabardino-Balkaria, Northern Osetia, Karachaevo-Cherkessia and Dagestan contributed to an avalanche-hazardous situation in the mountains during the whole of March. Heavy snowfalls and snowstorms were also observed in the Nenets Autonomous Distgrict, the Kirov and Nizhni Novgorod regions, Tatarstan, and the Central Black-Earth Zone. The monthly precipitation norm was exceeded two- to threefold in Northern Caucasia. The Taimyr Peninsula, under decreased air temperatures, often experienced heavy snowstorms with a wind speed to 25-30 m/s and visibility as low as 50-100 m. In Trans-Baikal, deep cyclones caused abrupt weather change: precipitation, strong wind, snowstorms and dust storms. Sakhalin and Kamchatka were attacked several times by deep southern cyclones that brought heavy snowfalls, snow storms and storm winds. As a result, the monthly precipitation norm was exceeded twofold. Heavy snow storms were also recorded in the vicinity of Pevek and Anadyr.

Fig.3. Anomalies of mean spring air temperatures averaged over quasi-homogeneous climatic regions for the period 1936-2005.

In April, positive temperature anomalies formed nearly over the whole of the Russian territory. Particularly warm weather was recorded in the western regions of Yakutia, where mean monthly temperature anomalies were above 7-8⁰C. Much precipitation, more than three monthly norms in places, was recorded in the central and southern regions of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Khakasia, Cis-Baikal and Trans-Baikal. In the south of the Khabarovsk Territory and the Amur Region, the precipitation sum in April was 2-2.5 times as high as the normal value. Precipitation lasted 12-16 days, which is twice as frequent as it normally occurs.

In May, the absolute maximum of the mean monthly air temperature recorded in 1943 was repeated in Russia as a whole, while in the Ural Federal District, the mean monthly air temperature in May 2005 proved to be the highest for 105 years of meteorological observations. Very warm and dry weather persisted in the autonomous district of the Tyumen Region and in most of Eastern Siberia. In the south of the Far East, the weather was cool and wet. The southern Khabarovsk Territory and the Maritime Territory received more than two monthly norms of precipitation. Heavy rain caused a sharp rise in water level in the rivers of the Maritime Territory and Sakhalin.

For the whole of Russia, the summer season was one of the warmest on record.

Owing to frequent intrusions of cold air into the central and southern regions of European Russia, June was cool and rainy. In the eastern regions of European Russia, air chills (0…-2⁰C) and soil chills (to -4⁰C) were recorded in the first and second ten-day periods. Severe thunderstorms with shower, hail and wind squalls occurred throughout the month nearly everywhere. Hail of diameter to 35 mm was recorded in the Mostov Region of the Krasnodar Territory.

Fig.4. Anomalies of mean summer air temperatures averaged over quasi-homogeneous climatic regions for the period 1936-2005.

Western Siberia, under very warm weather, experienced significant precipitation deficit (20-30% of monthly norm). Heavy showers with thunderstorms and wind squalls occurred in Trans-Baikal.

As for Western Siberia, much precipitation occurred in the central regions of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and in the northwest of the Irkutsk Region. At some of the stations, the monthly norm of precipitation is 2-2.5 times as large. In most of the Far East region, mean monthly air temperatures are 1-2⁰C above normal. Early in June, the Arkharinsk area in the Amur Region received 100 mm of precipitation in two days, which produced rain flood in the Arkhara River. The maximum water level reached 410 cm. Such a high flood in June is recorded here for the first time.

In July, thundershowers with hail and squall winds were recorded in European Russia throughout the month nearly everywhere. However, some regions of European Russia received much lower than monthly normal precipitation. Late in the first ten-day period, strong heat set in the southern regions of Western Siberia. Diurnal temperatures rose up to 35-39⁰C. During ten days the diurnal air temperature in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District reached 30-34⁰C. Very warm and dry weather prevailed in July in Eastern Siberia. Late in the first ten-day period, diurnal temperatures rose as high as 30-38⁰C in the central and southern regions of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in Khakasia and Tuva.

Heavy rainfalls were recorded on 4-5 July in the Maritime Territory. The highest amount of precipitation (80-166 mm) was recorded in the town of Artyom and in Vladivostock and its suburbs. Vladivostock experiences heavy rainfalls nearly every year, but so intensive rainfall (115 mm in 12 hours and under) was last recorded in July 1990 (typhoon Robin). Another heavy shower hit Vladivostock on 14 July, bringing over 70 mm of precipitation in 4 hours. The southern Khabarovsk Territory and the Amur Region experienced significant precipitation deficit (20-30% of monthly norm), which, like a year before, caused numerous forest fire events.

In August, the anticyclone over the centre of European Russia caused very dry and hot weather, with precipitation amount being 8-30% of monthly norm. In the first ten-day period of August, the Kaliningrad Region received more than three monthly norms of precipitation. In Western Siberia, August was rather warm, with strong heat being recorded on individual days. In the Novosibirsk Region, for example, diurnal air temperature on 20-22 August was as high as 28-34⁰C and in Altai, it rose up to 35-38⁰C. In Zmeinogorsk, the air temperature attained 40⁰C, which was 2⁰C higher than the absolute maximum in August. In the west of the Irkutsk Region, in the period 7-20 August, rainfalls occurred almost every day (52-84 mm).

In autumn 2005, the air temperature averaged over the territory of Russia attained the record value, with a temperature anomaly being 2.7⁰C (Figs 5, 6).

Fig.5. Anomalies of seasonal air temperatures averaged over the Russian territory for the period 1936-2005.

Positive temperature anomalies were observed in most of Russia throughout the season (Fig.7). Against the increased air temperatures, many regions experienced significant precipitation deficit. September 2005 in Moscow proved to be one of the driest on record: precipitation amount was 12.2 mm (18% of monthly norm) and there were only six days with precipitation of more than 0.1 mm, with the norm being 16 days. Combined with the higher temperature background, this increased fire hazards in many regions of European Russia. Peat bogs were on fire in the Moscow and Nizhni Novgorod regions. Dry and windless weather contributed to high atmospheric turbidity and smog formation.

Fig.6. Anomalies of mean autumn air temperatures averaged over quasi-homogeneous climatic regions for the period 1936-2005.

Fig.7. Air temperature anomalies in autumn 2005. Insets show November air temperature series at meteorological stations Ust’-Maya and Ust’-Tsilma.

In October, against the background of increased air temperatures, many regions of European Russia suffered from significant precipitation deficit. In this season, a fire-hazardous period was very long in the Middle Volga and southern Ural. October in Northern Caucasia was moderately warm, but very rainy, with more than three monthly norms of precipitation being recorded in places. Heavy showers (e.g. on 4 October, Krasnodar received 77 mm of precipitation in an hour) caused rock slides and mud flows in the mountains of Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachaevo-Cherkessia and Northern Osetia.

Extraordinary warm weather was recorded in October in Western Siberia, particularly in its northern area. In most of Eastern Siberia, so high temperatures in October were first recorded in the past 65 years; mean monthly air temperatures were 2-5⁰ C higher than normal. Particularly much precipitation fell in the Irkutsk Region (220-330% of monthly norm), with the precipitation excess being recorded for three months at a time in some areas of the Region.

In November, two large areas of heat formed above the northeast of European Russia and the southeast of the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia. Anomalies at the centres of these areas attained 9 and 11⁰C, respectively. Some of the meteorological stations in these areas showed record mean monthly air temperatures (Fig.7).

In December, warm weather persisted in European Russia, with the anomalies of mean monthly air temperatures being 1-4⁰C. Most of the territory received precipitation within the norm, except the south of the Central Federal District, where very much snow was recorded in December (160-220% of monthly norm). A slightly weaker area of heat was recorded in the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia. In the south of Siberia, the cold area formed in the Siberian anticyclone zone, following the autumn warm period. In the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and in the centre of the Irkutsk Region, mean monthly air temperature anomalies were -4 to -5⁰C. In December, cold weather was prevailing in the Chukchi and Koryak autonomous districts, in the east of the Magadan Region and in the Maritime Territory; mean monthly air temperatures proved to be 2-4⁰C below normal. As for the Far East Federal District, significant precipitation deficit is recorded in the north of the District (2-20% of monthly norm), while Sakhalin and low reach areas of the Amur received over two monthly norms of precipitation.