A dramatic change in the weather has occurred in Moscow. Not only is thestreak of brutal heat over, but temperatures will actually remain below normalinto Sunday.The passage of a cold front brought noticeable and welcome cooling to MoscowThursday. A more comfortable high of 76 degrees that day replaced Wednesday'ssizzling high of 92 degrees.
Even cooler air graced the city Friday, when temperatures only rose into thelower 60s. That is well below the city's normal high of 70 degrees.
Temperatures Saturday remained below normal as temperatures climbed into themiddle and upper 60s after a morning low of 46 degrees.
Residents of Moscow can breathe a sigh of relief because the blazing heat willnot be quick to return. Instead, temperatures will continue to just reach orfall short of seasonable levels Sunday into next week.
Wednesday is the only day during the upcoming week when temperatures mayapproach or return to the 80s. Even if that does occur, more comfortable airwill quickly filter into the city by Thursday.
Temperatures being held below normal have been a rarity this summer in Moscow.
June 18 was the last time that Moscow experienced below-normal temperatures anda high in the 60s.
A strong ridge of high pressure has been in place most of this summer, sendingtemperatures to unprecedented values.
Moscow recorded 22 days of highs at or above 90 degrees so far this year. Onthree of those days, triple-digit heat was endured.
Never before this summer have temperatures cracked the century mark. Now, thehigh of 101 degrees set on July 29 is in history books as the city's all-timehottest temperature.
To further put the heat into perspective, consider the fact that temperaturesfrom June 19 to Aug. 19 averaged an impressive 14.1 degrees above normal.
Story by Kristina Pydynowski and Rob Miller, AccuWeather.com SeniorMeteorologists.
