Photo walks in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky: the beginning of winter in the snowiest city of Russia

Photojournalists from the KAMCHATKA-INFORM agency continue their photographic explorations of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. This time, Anastasia YUDAEVA's photo report captures the onset of winter in Kamchatka's capital.

Winter in Kamchatka evokes mixed feelings. On one hand, the southeast of the peninsula typically enjoys a mild winter, with blue skies often replacing the usual gray. Residents can ski, snowboard, or sled within the city limits. On the other hand, the region faces challenges such as fluctuating atmospheric pressure, heavy snowfall, and the stress of snow removal from roads and pathways. Occasionally, the city declares a state of emergency due to sudden, heavy snowfalls. Cyclones, however, bring joy to schoolchildren, as classes are frequently canceled.

For those curious about winter in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, here's some useful information from reliable sources:

Climate in Kamchatka

According to the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky climate profile, the region experiences a maritime humid climate with moderately cold, snowy winters. A notable feature is the extended winter season, lasting nearly six months from November to April. Severe winter weather combines low temperatures with strong northern winds. Snowstorms, occurring 1-2 times a month, can last over 12 hours and are often accompanied by sudden warming, hurricane-force winds, and heavy wet snow.

Proximity to the sea places Petropavlovsk in a zone of excessive moisture, with annual precipitation averaging 1200-1600 mm, mostly as snow. Cyclones influence the weather approximately 200 days a year, with over half occurring in winter. The record for daily precipitation is 90 mm, set on November 14, 2006. Snow cover can reach heights of 90-130 cm in some winters.

The coldest month's average temperature is -8.5 to -9.0ºC, with an absolute minimum of -34ºC. Thaws occur 10-13 days each winter. The design temperature for heating is -20ºC, and the heating season spans 259 days.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky's heavy snowfall, mountainous terrain, and temperature fluctuations make it uniquely prone to avalanches in Russia. The city has 95 avalanche zones, with 40 having experienced avalanches that destroyed homes and claimed lives.

This year, winter arrived late. The Kamchatka Hydrometeorological Center refrains from long-term forecasts, likely due to the region's unpredictable weather and the challenging nature of forecasting in Kamchatka. We can only hope for a mild winter without prolonged snowstorms.

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