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David Dessler is a veteran academic who held a tenured position at the College of William and Mary as a professor of government. In the early 2000s, David Dessler had the chance to travel to Russia to help facilitate an exchange program. Visiting during the winter, he braved frigid temperatures.
Russia has a surprisingly wide spectrum of weather, with cities such as St. Petersburg and Moscow defined by a continental humid climate. This combines short, hot summers with lengthy, cold winters. Temperatures in the hottest months, peaking in mid-July, can exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This is challenging for residents due to a lack of air conditioning in many buildings.
By contrast, winter weather in the large cities can drop below 0 degrees, with the coldest period between early December and late February. Snow often lasts through April across much of the country, and for those in St. Petersburg and Moscow, the cold can feel particularly biting, as the air is relatively humid.
The coldest community in Russia is Oymyakon in eastern Siberia, which has 500 hardy residents. In 2018, the town reached a temperature of -88 degrees Fahrenheit -- eight degrees lower than the average temperature on Mars.
