Freak Rainfall Wreaks Flooding Havoc on Russian Capital

By The Moscow Times

May 30, 2014

Moscow is expected to receive another 10 millimeters of precipitation. Vladimir Filonov / MT

The past 24 hours have seen Moscow receive nearly half the total norm of rain for the month of May with weather forecasters saying the downpours are far from over.

Torrential winds uprooted at least four trees in the north of the city and traffic through the Alabyano-Baltiisky tunnel was blocked off because of flooding, a spokesperson for Moscow's weather bureau said, Interfax reported Friday morning.

In all, municipal services received 130 calls about flooding emergencies, the report said.

Various Moscow neighborhoods received between 7 to 23 millimeters of precipitation over the past 24 hours — with the highest number amounting to 45 percent of the average monthly norm of rain for May, which is 51 millimeters, the weather service said.

Showers are likely to continue throughout the day on Friday, when the city is expected to receive another 10 millimeters of precipitation, the report said.

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