Moscow Hit by Historic Downpour

Moscow recently experienced an exceptionally severe rainstorm, with a month`s worth of precipitation falling in some areas within a mere two hours. This intense rainfall resulted in widespread flooding across streets and highways, and numerous vehicles were submerged. While the heaviest downpour has subsided, the capital is expected to continue experiencing thunderstorms and rain for the remainder of the day and throughout the week, according to meteorologists.

Citywide Disruptions and Traffic Chaos

The extreme weather caused significant disruption across the city. Traffic was temporarily halted on sections of Dmitrovskoye Highway and 1st Krasovsky Proezd due to severe flooding. Earlier, a fallen tree briefly interrupted metro services on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line between Shchyolkovskaya and Partizanskaya stations, though services have since resumed. The Department of Transport warned of potential traffic jams on the outer side of the Third Ring Road (TTK) from Rizhskaya to Savyolovskaya overpasses, as well as near Luzhnetskaya and Tulskaya overpasses.

The vestibule of Rizhskaya BCL metro station was also temporarily closed but has since reopened. Aeroexpress trains to Sheremetyevo Airport are running with increased intervals, and cancellations are possible; passengers are advised to use buses from Khovrino metro station instead. Further road closures, such as a section of Dmitrovskoye Highway near the 7th bus depot, were reported due to severe inundation. Public transport routes may also experience operational changes and delays.

Eyewitness Accounts of the Deluge

Eyewitnesses described the chaotic conditions. Timofey, a Business FM listener, remarked from inside a bus on Dmitrovskoye Highway:

“Moscow is turning into Thailand. The bus started leaking from below because the bodies are not sealed and are not designed for Thai weather, but for Moscow weather.”

Pavel, another Muscovite caught in the rain at his dacha in the Dmitrovsky district of the Moscow region, shared:

“It`s been pouring here since 11 AM, starting with an insane thunderstorm – thunder roaring, ground shaking, and a wild downpour. It got dark almost like evening, and the power went out for about two hours. Roads are flooded everywhere; cars are moving at about 10 kilometers per hour due to huge puddles on the asphalt.”

Vitaly, stuck in traffic on Stantsionnaya Street near the MSD in the city`s north, recounted:

“There was about 5 centimeters of water on the road. Even at low speed, a fountain of spray comes from under the car, covering oncoming vehicles and you. For a couple of seconds, you see absolutely nothing. So, all cars were moving at 10 kilometers per hour – that`s where the traffic jams come from. The storm drains simply cannot cope with such a volume of water; something needs to be done, because any heavy rain turns Moscow into one continuous traffic jam.”

Economic Impact: Surging Prices and Delivery Delays

Taxi fares surged two to three times their normal rates due to the downpour, with “Yandex Go” citing “more orders than cars due to bad weather.” “Yandex Eda” (food delivery) also warned of longer delivery times, humorously blaming “a labyrinth of puddles.”

Elena, a Business FM listener, described her experience in a “Svetofor” store on Ilimskaya Street:

“The building is old, and water immediately started flowing down the walls. Staff frantically tried to save equipment and turn off electricity. The area in front of the store, a slight depression, filled with water within 20 minutes. When I got to my car, the water was knee-deep. My car wasn`t driving; it was floating. Larger vehicles like buses were also floating. Staff mentioned a clogged manhole preventing the water from draining. I moved my car to higher ground and am waiting for the water to recede, as I`m afraid to drown my car.”

Some areas were dubbed “cemeteries of drowned cars” by residents and media. For instance, on Prospekt Mira, a residential road was completely submerged, leaving parked cars half-underwater.

Expert Advice for Flooded Vehicles

Auto expert Artem Bobtsov offered crucial advice for drivers whose cars are caught in floods:

“First, under no circumstances should you try to start it, to avoid a hydro-lock, which would completely ruin the engine. It needs to be loaded onto a tow truck. If a tow truck isn`t enough, call a manipulator – a small crane to lift the car onto a platform – and take it to a specialized service center.”

“The main problem is that water causes short circuits in all electronic blocks and contacts, leading to electrical damage. With complex modern foreign cars, this can be fatal or, at best, very expensive and time-consuming. All electronic blocks must be thoroughly dried before attempting to start the car. All possible cavities in the engine and body, including under seats, in footwells, and the trunk, must be opened and aired out, as water under floor mats never drains on its own and will lead to rot within six months. Most car services are familiar with these restorative procedures, especially in summer when such mass car submergences happen annually in Moscow. This operation typically takes three to four days, but given the potential high volume of affected cars, timelines may extend.”

Regarding costs, Bobtsov noted, “Last year, prices ranged from 100,000 to 200,000 rubles, but it`s highly variable. Since this is non-standard work without a fixed price list, some services might inflate costs. It`s advisable to call around and inquire about prices beforehand.”

For the upcoming week`s unfavorable forecast, including potential flooding of underground parking lots, he advised: “Always park on higher ground. If you must drive through large puddles – and there are many in Moscow now – do so extremely carefully, or better yet, avoid them. If you drive a running car into a puddle, a hydro-lock can occur, essentially requiring engine replacement. It`s better to park further from home or work and walk than to deal with such an unpleasant and costly ordeal.”

If the water level is not yet high, move the vehicle to a dry spot. Also, take photos of any damage for insurance purposes.

Scooter Sharing Services Issue Warnings

Kick-sharing services issued warnings to users. Whoosh advised against riding through deep puddles without being able to see the surface, even though their scooters can operate in rain. Yandex Go suggested postponing scooter rides in bad weather. MTS Urent assured that scooter batteries and electronics are sealed but emphasized extreme caution when riding on wet surfaces.

A Conscript`s Rainy Day

Ilya, another Business FM listener, found himself in a predicament near Fonvizinskaya metro station on July 15:

“Today, July 15, is not only the day when almost 50% of the monthly rainfall norm fell, but also the last day of the spring conscription, and I`m currently on my way to the military enlistment office to submit documents. The coincidence of these two events on one day was a very unpleasant circumstance for me. My sneakers are completely wet, and I think I`ve also soaked my documents, including my diploma and student certificate. Life is full of unpleasant surprises.”

Weather Outlook and Safety Recommendations

The Ministry of Emergency Situations (MCHS) issued an emergency weather warning for Moscow, forecasting heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail, and wind gusts of 19-23 meters per second (approx. 42-51 mph) until midnight. Daytime temperatures are expected to reach up to +23 degrees Celsius with strong squally winds. Synoptics anticipate rain intensity to reach 20 liters per square meter today.

Meteorologist, weather observer for Meteoweb project, Alexey Safonov, noted that the heat has left Moscow, and rain will continue throughout the week:

“Muscovites and visitors are experiencing thunderstorms, and this has been going on for several days. This weather will continue in the coming days – though there will be slightly fewer thunderstorms and less rain, they won`t disappear from the city. Today is one of the most thundery days… The thunderstorm is practically ongoing throughout the day across the city, bringing a very large amount of precipitation… Regarding future developments – forecasters expect rain tomorrow as well, but with fewer thunderstorms. Overall, temperatures today and tomorrow will be 23-25 degrees Celsius, and throughout the week, we expect varying degrees of rain. If today was forecast up to 27 degrees, tomorrow it will be 25, and by the weekend 23-25, so it`s very comfortable weather, if not for the rain.”

Drivers are advised to significantly reduce speed, increase distance from other vehicles, and avoid sudden maneuvers during overtaking or lane changes. Pedestrians should steer clear of billboards and unstable structures, and not seek shelter under trees.