Forget a white New Year.
Unseasonably warm weather that swept Moscow this week has melted much of the snow and will keep the temperature above freezing for the rest of the year, the federal weather service said Thursday.
The daytime temperature was forecast to reach a high of 2 to 4 degrees Celsius on Thursday, possibly setting an all-time record for the day.
The previous record for Dec. 26 was registered in 2011, when the temperature warmed up to 4.1 C, it said, Interfax reported.
Moscow hit a record 4 C on Dec. 25, passing the previous 3.1 C record set in 1910.
The warm weather is expected to last at least another week, with no significant precipitation, possibly spoiling the hopes of anyone looking forward to including snow with their fireworks and Champagne as they ring in the New Year on Tuesday night.