Moscow experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification _Dfb_), characterized by distinct seasons with long, cold, and snowy winters and warm, sometimes hot, summers.
Summers (June to August) are generally pleasant and warm, with average daytime temperatures ranging from 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F), though heatwaves can occasionally push temperatures above 30°C (86°F). This is widely considered the best time to visit for outdoor activities, park strolls, and river cruises. Winters (December to February) are famously rigorous. Average temperatures hover around -7°C to -10°C (19°F to 14°F), and deep snow cover typically lasts from late November through March.
Spring and autumn are brief but highly transitional, marked by rapid temperature changes and moderate rainfall. Humidity is generally moderate, and extreme natural disasters are rare, though the city can occasionally experience severe thunderstorms in summer, heavy blizzards in winter, and occasional smog events if wildfires break out in the surrounding peat bogs.
