Moscow Flooded After Massive Summer Storm

On July 15, Moscow, parts of the Moscow Region, and neighboring territories were hit by intense thunderstorms accompanied by torrential downpours, hail, and wind gusts reaching up to 20 meters per second. Despite the storm, temperatures soared to a stifling 28–30°C, intensifying the effect of the tropical-like weather system. In some districts, a month's worth of rain fell in less than two hours, with the heaviest downpours striking northern, eastern, northeastern, and southeastern parts of the capital. “Heavy showers and squally winds will persist at least until midnight,” warned meteorologists. Evgeny Tishkovets, lead specialist at the Phobos Weather Center, predicted that rains would continue in the Moscow region until Friday, July 18. Only after that will dry, sunny weather return. Streets and Metro Stations Flooded Muscovites captured dramatic scenes of the storm's aftermath, flooding social media with images and videos showing waterlogged streets, flooded metro stations, and impassable underpasses. At one point, the vestibule of the Rizhskaya station on the Big Circle Line was temporarily shut down due to flooding.