Moscow, Russia Climate & Monthly Averages
Moscow has a humid continental climate. July is the hottest month, averaging 75° by day; January is the coldest at 24°.
Winter sets the pace in Moscow
The Moscow year is defined by how long its winter lasts: 5 months average sub-freezing nights, bottoming out in January at 14°F (-10°C). Summer is the short exception, with July reaching 75°F (24°C).
July
75° by day 59° at nightJanuary
24° by day 14° at nightThe cold-weather pattern in numbers
Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 5 months, November through March. July is the warm end of the year, averaging 75°F (24°C) by day and 59°F (15°C) overnight. January is the coolest month, with highs of 24°F (-5°C) and lows near 14°F (-10°C). Between the average July and the average January lie 26°C, a wider spread than roughly 89% of the cities we track.
Sunshine averages 7.1 hours a day over the year - duller than almost anywhere else we cover, peaking in June at 13.3 hours. Snow falls on roughly 38 days a year, mostly October through April. The wettest month is July (3.2 inches (82 mm) across 14 days) and the driest March. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 92°F (33°C) and the lowest daily minimum -24°F (-31°C).
More climate facts for Moscow
- Hottest month: July - highs near 75°F (24°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 24°F (-5°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 92°F (33°C) high · -24°F (-31°C) low
- Wettest month: July (14 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (13.3 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid continental
- Annual swing: 26°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 8°C
- Snow: about 38 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 5
- Average humidity: 76%
From snow season to the warmest stretch in Moscow
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Moscow is brisk and cold, with daytime highs averaging 51°F (10°C) and nights around 34°F (1°C); rain falls on around 30 of the 90 days, plus about 6 snowy days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer brings comfortable warmth here - highs near 74°F (23°C), nights near 56°F (14°C), and rain falls on around 33 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 12.4 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Moscow is chilly: 49°F (9°C) by day, 38°F (3°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 31 of the 90 days, plus about 7 snowy days.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Moscow brings deep cold, with daytime highs averaging 26°F (-3°C) and nights around 17°F (-8°C); rain falls on around 36 of the 90 days, plus about 26 snowy days. Sun is scarce, averaging 2.1 hours a day. Wind sharpens cold like this considerably; pair the forecast winds with the wind speed converter to judge exposed conditions.
The coldest and warmest values in the dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.
Planning around winter in Moscow
The easier weather window
The best time to visit Moscow is generally May to June and August to September, when these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 68°F (20°C), with rain on about 10 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.
Cold-weather packing
Pack for Moscow with a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Even in July, lows of 59°F (15°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Monthly highs, lows and seasonal change
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24° | 14° | 13 | 1.8 in | 1.6 h/day | 7.6 h | 42% | 86% |
| February | 27° | 17° | 10 | 1.4 in | 3.7 h/day | 9.5 h | 34% | 85% |
| March | 36° | 22° | 9 | 1.4 in | 7.0 h/day | 11.6 h | 29% | 79% |
| April | 52° | 34° | 10 | 1.9 in | 9.1 h/day | 14.1 h | 35% | 68% |
| May | 64° | 45° | 11 | 2.6 in | 11.4 h/day | 16.2 h | 36% | 65% |
| June | 73° | 54° | 10 | 2.5 in | 13.3 h/day | 17.5 h | 34% | 65% |
| July | 75° | 59° | 14 | 3.2 in | 12.6 h/day | 17.0 h | 45% | 71% |
| August | 74° | 56° | 8 | 2.1 in | 11.4 h/day | 15.0 h | 26% | 70% |
| September | 63° | 48° | 9 | 1.9 in | 8.0 h/day | 12.6 h | 29% | 74% |
| October | 49° | 38° | 12 | 2.1 in | 4.5 h/day | 10.3 h | 37% | 79% |
| November | 35° | 28° | 11 | 2.0 in | 1.8 h/day | 8.2 h | 36% | 85% |
| December | 28° | 21° | 14 | 2.1 in | 1.0 h/day | 7.0 h | 45% | 87% |
The route from winter to summer, month by month
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Moscow's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 1.6 h
- Daylight
- 7.6 h
- Snow
- 9 days
February
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 3.7 h
- Daylight
- 9.5 h
- Snow
- 7 days
March
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 7.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.6 h
- Snow
- 4 days
April
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 9.1 h
- Daylight
- 14.1 h
- Snow
- 2 days
May
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 11.4 h
- Daylight
- 16.2 h
June
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 13.3 h
- Daylight
- 17.5 h
July
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 12.6 h
- Daylight
- 17.0 h
August
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 11.4 h
- Daylight
- 15.0 h
September
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 8.0 h
- Daylight
- 12.6 h
October
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 4.5 h
- Daylight
- 10.3 h
- Snow
- 2 days
November
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 1.8 h
- Daylight
- 8.2 h
- Snow
- 5 days
December
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 1.0 h
- Daylight
- 7.0 h
- Snow
- 10 days
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Moscow's coolest part of the year: January, February, December.
Where Moscow sits among other climates
- Moscow averages 43°F (6°C) across the year - cooler than all but 3% of the 3496 cities we track.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.