Moscow has been hit by abnormal tropical downpours, thunderstorms, and hail. According to weather forecasts, July 4 will see up to half the monthly average rainfall, with heavy showers 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 levels are knee-high, 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, conditions have improved—most of the water has drained through the sewers, leaving fewer puddles. For some drivers, the flooding isn’t critical due to their vehicles’ high clearance. However, if the rain had continued all day, the situation could have been much worse, with many frustrated drivers stuck in their cars. Several streets were particularly 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, causing severe damage. If a car is submerged for an extended period, the interior must be dried, electrical components treated, and wiring checked—a process that can take several days and cost around 70,000–80,000 rubles.
Insurance may not always cover flood-related damage. Not all comprehensive policies include protection against hydro-lock, so drivers should check their coverage. 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.
Legal recourse is also uncertain. Courts may examine whether the driver acted responsibly when entering a flooded area. If a car was properly parked but damaged due to overflowing rivers or extreme rainfall, liability may fall on authorities responsible for flood prevention and river maintenance. In some cases, compensation has been awarded when negligence was proven, but gathering evidence can be difficult for individual drivers. The most effective course of action is often to report the issue to regulatory bodies, such as the prosecutor’s office.
Despite the severe weather, airport express trains to Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo are running on schedule. The bad weather is expected to last until mid-week, with conditions gradually improving by the weekend. Temperatures will remain warm, around 23–25°C during the day and 14–17°C at night. By Wednesday, sunny weather will return, with daytime highs of 25–27°C. A slight cooling is expected later in the week, but temperatures will remain mild.
Due to worsening road conditions, drivers in the capital have been advised to use public transport on August 4 and 5.
