Moscow Sets All-Time Record High; Relief is in Sight

The ongoing and brutal heat wave in Moscow reached unprecedentedtemperatures today. The heat will continue to bake the city into midweek, butthen relief is in sight.Temperatures today soared to 99 degrees (37.2 degrees C) in Moscow at 4 p.m.

local time (8 a.m. EDT). That is the hottest temperature ever measured in thecity's recorded history. The previous all-time record high was 98.2 degrees(36.8 degrees C) on August 7, 1920.

The 99 degrees measured at 4 p.m. is not the official high for today. It ispossible that temperatures may creep to the century mark before the day isover.

Temperatures have been nearing the century mark in Moscow daily since Friday.

Saturday's high of 98.1 degrees (36.7 degrees C) inched past the previous Julyrecord high of 97.7 degrees (36.5 degrees C) that was set on July 30, 1936.

Today obviously now holds that July record.

Though the heat has reached extreme levels recently, hot weather has dominatedMoscow this entire summer.

Temperatures in Moscow this time of year typically warm to only 72 degrees,which was actually the city's low this morning.

To put the heat further into perspective, consider the fact that temperaturesare averaging nearly 14 degrees above normal this month.

The dome of high pressure that has been baking Moscow recently will continue todo so through midweek. Thursday could actually prove to be even hotter thantoday.

The passage of a cold front late Thursday should cause the heat to ease laterthis week. There are also indications that more substantial cooling will graceMoscow early next week.