Europe

White Christmas hits Moscow flights

Massive snowstorm causes severe disruption with more than 150 flights delayed

Muscovites walk on the street during snowfall in Moscow, Russia, 25 December 2014. Moscow was struck by a powerful snowfall, which will last until the evening. More than 150 flights were disrupted due to the bad weather in the three international airports of Moscow. Photograph: Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA
Muscovites walk on the street during snowfall in Moscow, Russia, 25 December 2014. Moscow was struck by a powerful snowfall, which will last until the evening. More than 150 flights were disrupted due to the bad weather in the three international airports of Moscow. Photograph: Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA
Thu Dec 25 2014 - 12:38

Russia saw a white Christmas today as a massive snowstorm in Moscow caused delays to more than 150 flights and brought traffic to a standstill.

None of Moscow’s three airports was closed, but all three were hit with severe delays, including more than a hundred flights being delayed from Domodedovo, south of the city.

The snowstorm began early today and the Russian Meteorological Office said it expects up to four inches of snow to fall in Moscow in a single day.

Congestion in Moscow reached a level which normally happens only occasionally every year during rush hour.

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The congestion was so bad today that several Cabinet ministers got stuck in traffic and arrived late for the last session of the government this year, according to prime minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Unlike in some Western European capitals, snowstorms in Moscow rarely disrupt public transport or shut down air traffic.