Krasnoyarsk Could See Warmest Winter in a Century, Says Climatologist
Krasnoyarsk faces what could be its warmest winter in a century, with seasonal temperatures projected to climb three to four degrees above the climate norm.
The Hydrometeorological Center of Russia compiled the seasonal outlook for 2026 and 2027, with a probability estimated at 65 to 69 percent, prmira.ru reported on November 12, 2026.
Sergey Verkhovets, SFU vice-rector and climatologist, discussed the forecast in an interview with prmira.ru.
“Это означает, что он с высокой долей вероятности оправдается в целом, но не гарантирует точность на каждый конкретный день. Синоптики уже предупреждают, что температура в отдельные дни будет сильно колебаться.”
said Sergey Verkhovets, SFU vice-rector and climatologist, telling prmira.ru that the general trend allows for sharp daily shifts.
December stands out as the single month expected to run colder than average across the region.
The average temperature for December is projected near minus 13.9 degrees Celsius, sitting 0.7 degrees below normal. Daytime readings at the start and middle of the month are expected to range from minus 9 to minus 11 degrees, dropping toward minus 13 degrees by month-end. Nighttime lows will settle between minus 14 and minus 20 degrees.
Temperatures rebound heading into the new year, pushing above historical averages through January and February.
January averages are predicted at minus 15.2 degrees Celsius, sitting 0.4 degrees above normal, with daytime highs reaching minus 12 to minus 16 degrees and nights dipping to minus 17 to minus 24 degrees. February follows with a predicted average of minus 11.6 degrees, which is 0.7 degrees warmer than normal, as daytime temperatures start the month between minus 9 and minus 14 degrees before rising toward minus 7 degrees by the end of February.
Despite the overall warmth predicted for Krasnoyarsk, short-lived winter chills and extreme northern cold remain part of the seasonal pattern.
Verkhovets said that winter conditions and potential cold snaps could emerge in the second half of January, though these cold periods will not linger or match previous severe lows. Extreme northern areas of the region may still experience severe frosts dropping below minus 50 degrees, contrasting with the milder urban outlook.