Heavy snowfall causes traffic chaos, airport delays in Moscow

Heavy snowfall hit Moscow and the surrounding region, leading to major traffic jams and disruptions at airports. We show the first consequences of the storm.

Feb 17, 2026

A reader shares images of the first impacts of the heavy snowfall in the capital.
Source:
MSK1.RU reader

From 26 to 27 January, up to 9 millimeters of precipitation fell in Moscow. During the day, this amount will only increase and will reach one third of the monthly norm. The height of snowdrifts will rise from 30 cm to 47 cm, said leading specialist of the Fobos weather center, Yevgeny Tishkovets.

Motorists spent the morning clearing heavy snow from their vehicles after the overnight storm.
Source:
MSK1.RU reader

During the day, an orange level of weather danger will be in effect in the Moscow region and the capital. Weather conditions will be determined by a warm cyclone that has formed over central Russia. The bad weather in the region will linger for several days.

Snow accumulation has partially obscured road signs across the city.
Source:
MSK1.RU reader

MSK1.RU shows the first consequences of the snowfall that has hit.

Traffic jams formed on major roads as a result of the intense snowfall.
Source:
MK: urgent news / T.me

Some motorists have already complained about traffic jams that have arisen on the roads due to heavy snowfall.

Pedestunners had to carve paths through deep snow to reach metro stations.

Источник:

MSK1.RU reader

«I usually get to the office by 7:30–7:40, now it»s already past 8 a.m., Yandex Maps shows that it will take more than an hour to get there. And all because 90% of the cars on the road are front-wheel drive and can«t get going, or they don»t understand braking distance and drive at 20 km/h. Well, if you can«t drive in winter — then stay at home! Why create such problems for others? They warned for three days that there would be a snowfall,» one of MSK1.RU«s readers complains in the comments under our online broadcast.

Some major streets remained clear as utility services worked to clear snow.

Источник:

MSK1.RU reader

Special equipment is working at full capacity at Sheremetyevo International Airport, clearing the runways. And Aeroflot said that it has switched the airline«s operations to an enhanced mode due to the bad weather.

The national airline Aeroflot activated enhanced operating procedures due to the storm.

Источник:

Moscow 24 / T.me

«Due to the expected increase in the load on ground services and the need for constant clearing of the apron, there may be an increase in the time for preparing aircraft for departure and servicing arriving flights,» the airline warned.

Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport in advance, taking into account the situation on the roads, and also to monitor flight status information on the online board.

We are reporting all the current information about the situation in the city in our online report. Also read about when the frost and bad weather will end in Moscow and the region.