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High wind event in Moscow, Russia

By Scott Bachmeier •

Meteosat-10 Visible (0.8 µm, left) and Infrared Window (10.8 µm, right) images [click to play animation]

Meteosat-10 Visible (0.8 µm, left) and Infrared Window (10.8 µm, right) images [click to play animation]

High winds associated with a strong cold frontal passage were responsible for 16 fatalities and 168 injuries in Moscow, Russia on 29 May 2017 (CNN | BBC). EUMETSAT Meteosat-10 High Resolution Visible (0.8 µm) and Infrared Window (10.8 µm) images (above; MP4 ) showed the cluster of thunderstorms that moved through the region. Plotted in yellow are 4-letter station identifiers of the three principal Moscow airports (UUEE, UUWW and UUDD). The cloud-top Infrared brightness temperatures of the thunderstorm cluster exhibited a distinct bowing structure on Infrared imagery around the time of the highest winds (1230 UTC).

On the corresponding Meteosat-10 Water Vapor (6.25 µm) images (below; MP4), the well-defined signature of a middle-tropospheric vorticity center could be seen.

Meteosat-10 Water Vapor (6.25 µm) images [click to play animation]

Meteosat-10 Water Vapor (6.25 µm) images [click to play animation]

Time series plots of surface observations from the 3 major Moscow airports (below) showed that Sheremetyevo International Airport (UUEE) recorded a wind gust of 54 knots (62 mph) at 1230 UTC — also note the sharp drop in air temperature as the cold front passed.

Time series of surface observations at Sheremetyevo International Airport UUEE [click to enlarge]

Time series of surface observations at Sheremetyevo International Airport UUEE [click to enlarge]

Time series of surface observations at Vnukovo International Airport UUWW [click to enlarge]

Time series of surface observations at Vnukovo International Airport UUWW [click to enlarge]

Time series of surface observations at Domodedovo International Airport UUDD [click to enlarge]

Time series of surface observations at Domodedovo International Airport UUDD [click to enlarge]

Categories: Meteosat, Severe convection