Siberians Hate Krasnodar's Unpredictable Winter

If native Krasnodar residents have long been accustomed to the unpredictable Kuban winter, new residents of the city, even those from harsh Siberian regions, are not ready for the southern specifics. What exactly do they dislike about Kuban?

Kristina moved to Krasnodar from Krasnoyarsk three years ago. Since then, she has greatly missed a normal, predictable Siberian winter.

— I remember how in November in my native Krasnoyarsk, winter came once and for all. Everything was covered with a thick, fluffy snow blanket. And so until April. You knew the rules of the game: severe frost, sun, everything familiar and stable. You dress warmly and you feel good.

And here, in Krasnodar, winter is an unreliable thing. It only teases. Today +15°C (59°F) and sun, you go out in a light jacket. And tomorrow — surprise! Zero degrees Celsius (32°F), graupel from the sky and icy wind that chills you to the bone with its dampness. You cannot stop it with a down jacket or our Siberian spirit. The cold seeps into cracks, soaks into the skin. On the sidewalks — slush of wet snow, dirt and fallen leaves. You slide on this muck and risk falling into it. Terrible feeling. I hate Krasnodar winter.

Alexander moved to Kuban with his family from Novosibirsk Oblast. The family still hasn«t gotten used to the southern winter, and it is not at all about the cold.

— When we moved to Krasnodar, we were attracted by the warm weather and the absence of harsh winters. We dreamed of a mild climate, but reality turned out a little different. The Krasnodar winter surprised us with its unpredictability. These fluctuations drive us crazy. In the morning you can wake up under bright sun, and by lunch an autumn downpour might start. And in the evening all that water freezes, turning the city into an ice rink. Yes, in Novosibirsk it was harsh, but predictable. Snow lay for a long time, and the children happily sledded and played constantly. Here there is no constancy. Also annoying is the constant guessing game with clothing. Either your jacket is too warm, or you put on something lighter but the wind blows. Either it is warm, you leave home without a hat, and by evening you do not know where to hide from the cold. We want stability: either eternal summer or a real winter with sleds and sledding down hills. Not this lottery, where every day is roulette.