Moscow has been struck by an exceptionally powerful rainstorm, with certain areas receiving a month`s worth of precipitation in just two hours. This severe weather has left numerous streets and highways submerged, and many passenger cars have been inundated. While the heaviest rain has subsided, stormy and wet conditions are expected to persist in the capital throughout the day, with meteorologists forecasting more rain and thunderstorms for the entire coming week.
The intense rainfall led to temporary road closures in several parts of Moscow. Specifically, traffic was halted on Dmitrovskoye Highway (near building 62) and in 1st Krasovsky Drive (near building 2). Earlier, a fallen tree caused a suspension of metro services on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line between Shchyolkovskaya and Partizanskaya stations, though service has since been fully restored. The Department of Transport issued a warning about potential traffic congestion in the afternoon, particularly on the outer side of the Third Ring Road (from Rizhskaya to Savelovskaya overpasses) and around the Luzhnetskaya and Tulskaya overpasses in both directions.
The vestibule of Rizhskaya BCL metro station was also briefly closed but has reopened. Aeroexpress trains to Sheremetyevo Airport are operating with extended intervals, and some cancellations are possible. As an alternative, buses running between Khovrino metro station and the airport every 10-15 minutes are recommended. The Department of Transport also noted that weather conditions might cause localized delays and route changes for ground transport.
Timofey, a Business FM listener and eyewitness, shared his experience during the deluge:
“Moscow is turning into Thailand. For instance, today at 12:20 PM, the 319 bus on Dmitrovskoye Highway started leaking from below. Bus bodies aren`t hermetically sealed and are designed for Moscow weather, not for `Thai` conditions.”
Pavel, a Muscovite at his dacha in the Moscow region, described the scene:
“In Iksha, Dmitrovsky District, it`s been pouring since 11 AM. It started with a wild thunderstorm – thunder rumbled, the ground shook, and the downpour was ferocious. It became almost as dark as evening, and the power went out. We were without electricity for about two hours, but thankfully, it came back on. There`s water everywhere; you can`t even step into the yard. I tried to drive to the store near the station, but all the roads are flooded, and cars are moving at about 10 kilometers per hour because of the huge puddles on the asphalt.”
Vitaly, another Muscovite, got stuck in traffic on Stantsionnaya Street near the Moscow Central Diameter (MSD) in the city`s north:
“I was driving for errands on the MSD, and when I turned onto Stantsionnaya Street, there was about 5 centimeters of water on the road. Even at low speed, a fountain of spray erupted from under the car. This spray covered oncoming vehicles, and they, in turn, covered me. For a couple of seconds, you couldn`t see anything and lost orientation. That`s why all cars were moving at 10 kilometers per hour – that`s where the traffic jams come from. I then drove onto Bolshaya Akademicheskaya, where the situation was slightly better but generally the same. The storm drains on the roads are completely overwhelmed by such a volume of water; something needs to be done about this, because any heavy rain turns Moscow into one continuous traffic jam.”
Taxi fares instantly surged two to three times due to the rain. The Yandex Go app explained the situation by stating: «More orders than cars due to bad weather.» Some routes saw a sharp increase in demand. Yandex.Eats warned of potential delivery delays «due to a labyrinth of puddles.»
Elena, a Business FM listener, was at a Svetofor store on Ilimskaya Street in the city`s north during the downpour:
“I found myself at the Svetofor store on Ilimskaya Street. A thunderstorm began, and we were inside. The building, which is quite old, immediately started leaking water down the walls. The poor staff were frantically trying to save equipment, turn off electricity in time, and somehow deal with the water flowing onto the floor. It was a significant amount, a veritable stream. The small dip at the entrance to the store filled with water in about 20 minutes. When I walked to my car, the water was almost knee-deep. I sloshed my way to the car, of course, but my car wasn`t driving, it was floating. And what I see now is larger, taller buses driving, and they are truly floating, not driving. Staff trying to clear the water said the manhole was clogged, so the water wasn`t draining. I moved my car slightly to higher ground and am waiting for a chance to leave, hoping the water recedes. It`s too scary to drive further; I really don`t want to drown my car.”
Some areas of the capital have been dubbed «a graveyard of drowned cars» by residents and media. For example, on Prospekt Mira, a road in a residential area was completely submerged, with parked cars half-underwater.
Auto expert Artem Bobtsov provided recommendations for rescuing a flooded or sinking car:
— First and foremost, under no circumstances should you start the car to avoid hydraulic lock, which would completely ruin the engine. The car must be loaded onto a tow truck. If a tow truck cannot access it, a manipulator (a small crane) should be called to lift the car onto a platform and transport it to a specialized service center.
— At the service center, all electronic control unit covers are opened, as the main problem is short circuits caused by water, leading to electrical system failure. For complex modern foreign cars, this can be fatal or, at the very least, very costly and time-consuming, as modern cars are packed with electronics. All these units must be dried thoroughly and for an extended period before attempting to start the car.
— All accessible cavities in the engine and body are also opened and air-blown, including areas under seats, in footwells, and in the trunk, because water constantly accumulates under floor mats and never drains naturally, leading to the car rotting within six months.
— Such a range of restoration procedures is more or less known to all auto repair shops, especially in summer when mass car floods, now almost an annual occurrence in Moscow, take place. Typically, this operation takes three to four days, but given the potentially large number of such vehicles at service centers, the timelines could increase.
— How much might this roughly cost?
— Last year, the cost of such an operation ranged from 100,000 to 200,000 rubles (approximately $1,000 to $2,000 USD, though currency conversion varies), but it is highly variable, and different service centers may quote different prices. If you find yourself in such an unfortunate situation, it`s advisable to call several services in advance to inquire about costs, as this is not a standardized service, and prices might be inflated in desperate situations.
— The forecast for the coming week is discouraging; underground parking lots will also flood. What should one do with their car, or just accept it?
— Obviously, cars should always be parked on elevated ground. However, if you must drive and your route takes you through large puddles (of which there are many in Moscow now), proceed with extreme caution, or, if possible, take an alternative route. Driving a running engine into a deep puddle can cause hydraulic lock, essentially requiring an engine replacement. It`s better to park farther from home or work and walk for a while than to face such unpleasant and costly consequences later.
If the water level is not yet high, it is advisable to move the car to a dry spot. Taking photos of the damage for the insurance company would also be beneficial.
Kicksharing services have also issued special advisories to users. Whoosh stated that their scooters can operate in the rain, but they do not recommend riding through deep puddles without being able to see the ground. Yandex Go advised postponing scooter trips in bad weather. MTS Urent noted that their scooter batteries and electronics are hermetically sealed, but riders should proceed with extreme caution on wet surfaces.
Ilya, a Business FM listener, was caught in the rain on his way to the military enlistment office near Fonvizinskaya metro station in northern Moscow:
“Today, July 15th, is not only the day when almost half a month`s worth of precipitation fell, but also the last day of the spring conscription period. I am currently heading to the military enlistment office to submit my documents. For me, the coincidence of these two events on the same day was an extremely unpleasant circumstance. My sneakers are completely soaked, and I think I`ve gotten my documents wet – my diploma and student certificate are in there. Life is full of unpleasant surprises.”
In the morning, the Ministry of Emergency Situations issued an urgent weather warning, advising of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and hail with wind gusts of 19-23 meters per second in Moscow. These conditions are expected to last until midnight. Daytime temperatures are forecast to reach up to +23 degrees Celsius, accompanied by strong squally winds. Forecasters predict the intensity of the downpours could reach 20 liters of rainwater per square meter.
Alexey Safonov, a meteorologist and weather reviewer for the Meteoweb project, noted that the heat has left Moscow, and rain will continue throughout the week:
Alexey Safonov meteorologist, weather reviewer for Meteoweb project
“Muscovites and visitors to the capital are experiencing thunderstorms, and this has been going on for several days now. This weather will persist 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, similar to yesterday and the day before, yet thunderstorms are occurring almost universally throughout the city for most of the day. A very large amount of precipitation – all accompanied by thunder, the thunderstorm is very electrically active. As for further developments, forecasters for the capital region are predicting rain for tomorrow, but mostly without thunderstorms. Overall, air temperatures today and tomorrow will be 23-25 degrees Celsius; we expect intermittent rain throughout the week. While today`s forecast was up to 27 degrees, tomorrow it will be 25, and by the weekend, 23-25, so the weather would be very comfortable if not for the rain.”
Drivers are advised to significantly reduce speed, increase their distance from vehicles ahead, and avoid sudden maneuvers when overtaking or changing lanes. Pedestrians were recommended to steer clear of advertising hoardings and unstable structures, and not to seek shelter under trees.
