Kamchatka Experiences Heaviest Snowfall in 60 Years

The head of the Kamchatka Hydro-Meteorology Department, Vera Polyakova, has announced that the weather conditions in Kamchatka during December 2025 and the first half of January 2026 have been extreme and extraordinarily rare, marking a unique event in nearly 60 years.

According to Polyakova, in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the amount of precipitation in December 2025 reached 370 millimeters, which is 316% of the monthly average. In the early days of January this year, precipitation totaled another 163.6 millimeters, or 149% of the average.

Due to prolonged snowfall in the region, the risk of avalanches has sharply increased. Experts continue to monitor the situation and have planned precautionary measures against potential avalanches and additional measures to protect populated areas, Polyakova clarified.

Full bus traffic has yet to be restored in the city. Authorities are advising residents to avoid leaving their homes unless absolutely necessary, as alert systems have warned them. Emergency services reported that on January 15, two people died due to avalanches from rooftops in the city.