Record-Breaking Snowfall in Russia, Kamchatka Towns in a Standstill

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Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky: Towns across Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula are reeling under unprecedented winter conditions after weeks of relentless snowfall that meteorologists say are the heaviest in decades. The extreme weather has buried streets, homes and vehicles under deep drifts, disrupted transportation and emergency services, and forced local authorities to declare states of emergency.

 In parts of Kamchatka one of Russia’s sparsely populated far eastern regions snow depths have exceeded two meters (over six feet) in just the first half of January, following already above-normal accumulations in December. In many neighbourhoods near the regional capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, residents have found their front doors and cars swallowed by towering banks of snow.

 Officials say the scale of the snowfall is rare; similar extremes were last recorded more than half a century ago. In some districts, depths surpassed 250 centimetres (8 feet), while social media posts from the region show residents carving paths by hand just to reach roadways or escape their buildings.

 The accumulation has taken its toll on daily life. Schools and offices have closed or moved to remote operations, roads and flight schedules remain heavily disrupted, and shops report shortages of basic supplies as delivery routes are blocked by snow. A municipal state of emergency in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky reflects mounting concern over public safety and infrastructure strain.

 Meteorologists attribute the extreme snowfall to persistent low-pressure systems over the Sea of Okhotsk that have driven continuous moisture and snow inland. The resulting storm pattern has left emergency crews racing to clear packed snow from critical routes, often facing conditions unlike any seen in recent memory.

 Officials urge residents to exercise caution as drifting snow continues to accumulate and hazardous conditions persist across the region.