LOCAL

This December, the capital is the warmest it’s been in five years. And it could beat all records yet.

And even though stereotypical picture of Moscow is one of the city blanketed in snow, this year they have had to bring in the fluffy stuff to allow a snowboarding competition to take place.

Record temperatures

The temperature in Moscow is eight degrees higher than the norm for this time of year in Russia, head of the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia, Roman Vilfand, told Vesti.

On Dec. 15, 2006, the temperature in Moscow was 9.2 degrees above zero, a record for December that is to be beaten this time round.

“In the next few days plus five and higher will be a reality for Moscow. There is a high possibility that five-year records will be beaten, especially on Friday,” a metrological bureau spokesperson told Interfax.

“This December will go down in our records as one of the warmest moths, but we need to wait for two more weeks,” Vilfand said.

Abnormally warm and wet weather in the European part of Russia will hold at least until the middle of next week, according to the metrological bureau. It might get a little colder only on Wednesday.

However, even then the weather is expected to remain above zero and up to plus four degrees.

Snow imported to Gorky Park

Even though there is no snow in Moscow, the city is getting ready to hold this season’s first snowboarding competition in Gorky Park on Saturday, Dec. 17.

The park has decided to bring in 100 cubic meters of snow to build the platform for the event, Komsomolskaya Pravda reported.

The competition’s prize fund will be $10,000, and musicians will be on hand in case the snow runs out to entertain the public.

Organizers, however, claim that it will not melt come rain or shine - a special refrigerator will take care of business.