Moscow has been hit by abnormal tropical downpours, thunderstorms, and hail. According to weather forecasts, up to half of the monthly rainfall will occur on July 4, with heavy rain persisting in some areas until the end of the day. A storm warning has been issued for Moscow and the surrounding region due to strong winds gusting up to 17 m/s. Footage from eyewitnesses shows flooding on Vyborgskaya Street—water is knee-deep, and cars are practically floating.
A similar situation has been reported in Ramenskoye, a town near Moscow. After every heavy rain, roads are severely flooded. The drainage systems simply can’t cope. The water eventually recedes, but not immediately. Currently, the situation on the roads has improved—most of the water has drained through the sewers, leaving fewer puddles. For some drivers, these floods aren’t critical since their vehicles have enough clearance. However, if the rain had lasted all day, the flooding would have been much worse, leaving many drivers stranded. Several streets, including Chetverty Kvartal and Chugunova, were heavily affected, with water levels reaching the curbs in some areas.
In some parts of the Moscow region, rainfall may exceed the monthly average. One of the biggest risks for drivers is hydro-lock, which occurs when water enters the engine through the air intake. This can cause severe engine damage, requiring a complete rebuild in 80% of cases. If a car remains submerged for an extended period, the interior must be dried, electrical components disconnected, and wiring treated to prevent further damage. Repairs can take at least two to three days and cost around 70,000–80,000 rubles.
Car insurance may not always cover flood-related damage. Not all comprehensive policies include protection against hydro-lock, so drivers should check their insurance terms. If driving through water is unavoidable, temporarily removing the air filter cover can help prevent water from being sucked into the engine. However, this is only a short-term solution, and the filter should be reinstalled immediately afterward.
Legal recourse is not always guaranteed for affected drivers. Courts assess whether the driver acted responsibly when entering a flooded area. If the flooding occurred while the car was parked legally and resulted from natural causes like overflowing rivers or extreme rainfall, liability may fall on authorities responsible for flood prevention. In some cases, compensation has been awarded when negligence in river maintenance was proven. However, gathering evidence against responsible agencies can be challenging for individual drivers. The most effective course of action is filing a complaint with regulatory bodies, such as the prosecutor’s office.
Despite the severe weather, Aeroexpress trains to Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo airports are running on schedule. The bad weather is expected to last until midweek, with gradual improvements by the weekend. Nighttime rainfall will remain significant, but conditions will ease by the afternoon of the following day. Cloudy skies with occasional sunshine are forecast, along with warm temperatures—23–25°C during the day and 14–17°C at night. By Wednesday, sunny and warm weather will return, with daytime highs of 25–27°C. A slight cooling trend will begin on Thursday, though temperatures will remain mild, ranging from 10–15°C at night to 20–25°C during the day. Light rain and intermittent sunshine are expected through the end of the week.
Due to worsening road conditions, drivers in the capital have been advised to use public transport on August 4 and 5.
