We're Having a Heat Wave

A lot of people ask us if it ever gets warm in Moscow and how warm it
might get. Well, here is an example. It is getting close to the end of
May and already the temperatures have been staying in the 70's and 80's
for the high of the day. Really it is not that warm yet, but I keep
reminding myself that it is only May - wait until August (will it be
higher than 100?). Unlike most places in the U.S., Moscow is not built for
warm or hot summers. Moscow is made for cold wintry weather that
exists about half the year, it never seems prepared for the heat which
exists 1 to 3 months a year. Therefore air conditioners are rare. More and
more businesses are getting them (still a low percentage over all), but
very few people have them in their apartments. Take our apartment
building for example. We live on the fifth floor. For the past week and a
half I have been keeping track of the temperature in our apartment.
With fans running and windows open the average temperature
has been 84 degrees Fahrenheit. This morning was actually a
wonderfully cool 78 degrees! I can't imagine how hot it is going to get at the
end of the summer for the people who live on the 18th floor! The
metro will soon be awful, there is no doubt about that. Last summer when
temperatures were in the 90's outside, I remember how miserable riding
on the metro was -millions of people crammed in together with
temperatures exceeding 100.
It is funny though that by February we are all desperate for
warm weather- ready to be free from the freezing winter. Then when
summer comes comes - winter sounds so good. So, in response to the question
- yes, it actually gets hot in Moscow.