Russia’s Kamchatka faces snow apocalypse as Sea of Okhotsk cyclones shatter 130-year record

Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula is experiencing record snowfall this January. Locals have called it a “snow apocalypse.” Entire towns, cars, and multi-storey buildings have been buried under towering drifts.

In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the regional capital, nearly 39 millimetres of snow fell in a single day. That was more than half the monthly average in just a few hours.

By mid-January, snow depth exceeded two metres in many areas. Drifts reached second-floor windows and rooftops. Meteorologists

said this was the heaviest snowfall in over 130 years. They linked it to powerful cyclones from the Sea of Okhotsk.

Daily life has been severely disrupted. Streets, vehicles, and entire neighbourhoods disappeared beneath the snow. Videos showed children sliding down drifts as high as four storeys.

Record snowfall happened in Kamchatka, Russia.

The snowfalll is so deep that children are playing and enjoying in it. pic.twitter.com/1eEIc0U9fg

— Neetu Khandelwal (@T_Investor_) January 20, 2026

Roads were blocked, and public transport halted. Supply chains were hit. Authorities declared a state of emergency and mobilised crews to clear rooftops and roads. At least two people died after heavy snow slid from rooftops.

Kamchatka, already known for volcanoes and subarctic weather, faced extreme conditions. Avalanches, freezing winds, and relentless snowfall pushed the region to new limits. Emergency crews worked continuously. Residents relied on community support.

Images and videos of buried cities spread globally. High-rise buildings were seen covered up to the fourth floor. Observers compared the scenes to polar expeditions.

Chaos on the ground

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky was especially hard hit. Major roads were blocked. Cars were almost completely engulfed. Many residents dug tunnels through the snow to reach the streets. Some exited their homes through windows when doors were blocked.

Schools and many businesses closed. Authorities warned of dangerous rooftop accumulations, falling icicles, and drifting snow. Emergency workers urged people to stay indoors. Local stores reported shortages of bread, milk, and eggs as deliveries were delayed. Crews worked around the clock to clear key routes and reach isolated families.

A man walks out of an apartment block surrounded by snowdrifts after an extreme snowstorm hit the far eastern city of Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatskiy, Russia.

Meteorological agencies said the blizzard was among the heaviest in decades. Snow depths exceeded two metres in many districts. Such levels had not been seen since the early 1970s. Snow fell continuously for several days.

Wider record across Russia

Russia’s national weather service said a 146-year-old snowfall record had been broken. Thick snow covered Moscow and several other regions. On social media, an X user wrote: “100% of Russia is currently covered in snow.”

India Today reported that Kamchatka was facing one of its harshest winters in recent years. Emergency services issued alerts and increased snow-clearing operations. Children were seen playing in deep snow despite the conditions.

No AI

This is from Kamchatka in easter Russia. Where historical amounts of snow has pounded some 10feet, but in rare cases like here, piles up to 40 feet.

100% of Russia is currently covered in snow.

Extreme climate is new norm pic.twitter.com/HOittWoGA8

— Linus ✦ Ekenstam (@LinusEkenstam) January 17, 2026

Meteorologists said repeated Pacific cyclonic systems pulled in large amounts of moisture. This moisture turned into heavy snow when it met freezing air over Kamchatka. Frequent storms left little time for snow to melt before new layers accumulated.

Flights were delayed or cancelled. Airports faced disruptions. Public transport was suspended in several areas. Roads connecting towns and villages were closed.

Measurements and conditions

The Moscow Times reported that the average snow height in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky reached around 170 centimetres. Drifts exceeded 2.5 metres in some neighbourhoods. In some places, drifts rose several metres high, blocking entrances and burying cars.

Visuals showed residents carving paths through towering snowbanks. Children were seen sliding near multi-storey buildings.

Snow covers cars in a courtyard of an apartment block after an extreme snowstorm hit the far eastern city of Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatskiy, Russia.

City authorities said drifts reached up to five metres in places. Avalanche risks increased in residential areas.

Reuters reported Kamchatka had its heaviest snowfall in around 60 years. More than two metres of snow fell in the first half of January, following 3.7 metres in December.

Emergency response and fatalities

Mayor Yevgeny Belyayev declared a citywide state of emergency after two elderly men were killed by snow falling from rooftops. He criticised property management companies for not clearing roofs in time.

Kamchatka’s Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Lebedev said a 63-year-old man was buried by snow falling from a one-storey roof. Paramedics tried to save him, but arrived too late. Lebedev warned residents to watch for large snow piles on roofs as temperatures rose.

Snow covers cars and the lower floors of apartment blocks after an extreme snowstorm hit the far eastern city of Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatskiy, Russia.

Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations released a video of rescuers digging through deep snow to reach trapped elderly residents.

Weather warnings

Meteorologists warned of heavy snowfall, low visibility, and wet snow, causing dangerous ice. Easterly winds reached 25 to 30 metres per second. Temperatures stayed between 0 and 2 degrees Celsius, making roads slippery and travel hazardous. Warnings covered Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Yelizhovsky districts.

????????❄️ Footage have emerged showing heavy snowfall in Russia that lasted for four days without interruption. pic.twitter.com/AVyoPu3A7f

— Cyrus Intel (@Cyrus_Intel50) January 17, 2026

On social media

One X user posted, “Russia’s Kamchatka buried under snow. Airports halt, ambulances can’t reach homes — patients carried by hand. Flights delayed or canceled as deadly snowdrifts paralyze daily life.”

Exoplanet...
Kamchatka. After a snow storm, people are sliding down from the fourth floor. pic.twitter.com/BMGqsNj5wn

— Black Hole (@konstructivizm) January 19, 2026

Another wrote, “You know it’s serious when Russia says the snow is too much. This is Kamchatka right now. Cars completely gone under 8 foot drifts. 2 people died from snow falling off roofs. They haven’t seen anything like this in 50 years. Absolute chaos.”