St Petersburg Freezes: Record Cold and City Life

February brought abnormal cold to the Northern Capital, but residents are carrying on, with some even swimming in the Neva.

Mar 11, 2026

February has been marked by abnormal frosts for St. Petersburg, but the city«s residents are showing resilience: some are working, others are out for walks, and the bravest are daring to swim in the icy Neva. Vivid footage of this harsh winter is presented by the publication Fontanka.

A pedestrian walks along a snowy embankment in St. Petersburg during the recent cold snap.

Last night was the coldest of the current winter season. In the morning, the air temperature in the central districts dropped to −19.4°C (-3°F). By 1 p.m., the sun had warmed the city slightly, and thermometers showed −17.3°C (1°F). The maximum temperature by the end of the day is expected to be −12 to −13°C (10 to 9°F).

According to forecasters, the weather will change on Monday. St. Petersburg«s chief meteorologist, Alexander Kolesov, reported a rise in temperature to −7 to −9°C (19 to 16°F). The Northwestern Directorate for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Northwestern UGMS) forecasts −14 to −16°C (7 to 3°F) at night and −9 to −11°C (16 to 12°F) during the day. Icy conditions persist on the roads.