New Year's weather in Russia: from rains in the south to frosts in Siberia and the Far East

Residents of Russia will have very contrasting weather in the coming days: while it will be rainy in the south, severe frosts will hit Siberia and the Far East, and the Urals and Western Siberia will become a zone of temperature fluctuations. The reason for such differences will be the active activity of atmospheric fronts and cyclones, which will determine the climatic picture in the last days of the outgoing year and the first day of the new year. For more information about the weather— see the Izvestia article.

Weather for the New Year – 2026 in the south of Russia

The cold air leaving the European part of the country will also enter the southern regions. However, his influence will manifest itself differently here. The Black Sea coast will welcome the holidays with rainy weather. This was reported by Tatiana Pozdnyakova, a leading specialist of the Meteonosti news agency, in a conversation with Izvestia.

— It will be rainy on the entire Black Sea coast. The temperature background is also expected to be low for these latitudes. In Sochi, on December 31, thermometers will show about +7 degrees at night, and no more than +9 degrees during the day. With the beginning of the new year, the temperature will continue to drop," she noted.

Photo: TASS/Dmitry Feoktistov

According to the forecast, nighttime values will drop to +3...+5 degrees, and daytime values will not exceed +8 degrees Celsius. Thus, warm resort weather is not expected at the main Russian resort during the holidays, and cloudy skies and precipitation are likely to accompany residents and visitors of the coast instead of the sun.

Pozdnyakova noted that such weather is typical for the intensification of cyclonic activity in the region, which will lead to rain. Despite the absence of frost, it will be cool, especially against the background of high humidity and likely wind.

New Year's weather in the Urals

Forecasters predict a frosty New Year's Eve in the Urals. In Yekaterinburg on December 31, the minimum temperature will be about -22 degrees, and the daytime temperature will approach -10. However, with the arrival of January 1, the situation will begin to change under the influence of the cyclone.

— On the night of the 1st, according to the forecast, the minimum temperature will be in the range of -12...-15 degrees, daytime temperature — -5...-9 degrees," forecaster Pozdnyakova cited the data.

Photo: TASS/Donat Sorokin

This relatively warm weather for this time of year is forecast to last until January 3rd inclusive. The expert noted that the warming period will be short-lived. It will snow again in the region on the 3rd, after which the temperature will start to drop again, returning to seasonal values.

Ural residents should prepare for a sudden change in weather conditions: if the New Year's Eve is likely to be frosty and clear, then the holiday itself and the following days will be milder, but snowy. This is a typical pattern for the passage of a warm atmospheric front, which may weaken the effect of the Siberian anticyclone for several days.

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What will the weather be like in Siberia for the New Year 2026

Weather conditions in Siberia will be extremely heterogeneous, which is associated with active cyclonic activity. According to Tatiana Pozdnyakova, residents of Western Siberia will find very interesting and changeable weather.

The cyclone will bring with it a noticeable warming. For example, in Novosibirsk on the night of December 31, it will still be -4 degrees, and in the afternoon — about 0. But on New Year's Eve, precipitation in the form of sleet and rain and an increase in temperature are expected.

— There will still be a slightly negative temperature in the range of -3 at night...-6 degrees, and the daytime temperature on the 1st may reach +2 degrees, - said the specialist.

Photo: TASS/Nikolai Burmatov

This means a short-term thaw, which is a significant event for the Siberian winter. However, starting from January 2, the temperature columns will creep down again, approaching the climatic norm.

A completely different picture is expected in Eastern Siberia. In Irkutsk, according to the forecaster, it will be cold. Frosts will remain for almost all holidays — December 31, January 1, 2 and 3. At night, the temperature will drop to -22...-24 degrees. On the afternoon of January 1, -12...-14 degrees are forecast, and on January 2 it will become slightly warmer: daytime temperatures will reach -9 degrees.

The most severe conditions are expected in Yakutia. The center of a powerful anticyclone responsible for severe frosts will be located over the east of Yakutia and the west of Chukotka. His influence, which is already being felt, will remain.

Photo: TASS/Vadim Scriabin

The expert said that the peak of the cold will be on New Year's Eve: from December 31 to January 1, the temperature may drop to -50 degrees at night and -42 degrees during the day. She noted that this is likely to be the final stage of such cold weather, as temperatures will rise from the beginning of the new year.

This contrast between the western and eastern parts of Siberia is explained by the different effects of atmospheric vortices: if warmer air with Atlantic cyclones actively flows to the west, the east will remain dominated by stable and cold continental air.

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Weather forecast in the Far East for the New Year

The weather in Vladivostok will be determined by the crest of the anticyclone, so precipitation is not expected during the holidays. The prevailing temperature at night will be -13...-15 degrees, and during the day -9...-11 degrees.

Photo: TASS/Yuri Smithyuk

It is noted that due to the gusty wind, the subjective feeling of cold, the so-called felt temperature, will be significantly lower than the thermometers show.