A powerful thunderstorm hit Moscow shortly before midnight on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, with heavy rain instantly flooding streets.
The heavy rain with hail and gale force wind was registered in the northwestern part of Moscow.
The thunderstorm halted traffic in many areas in the city due to the zero-visibility conditions it brought.
Russia’s Emergencies Ministry has issued a warning of a strong thunderstorm, with wind gusts of up to 18 meters per second (64 km/h) in the capital.
Damage to power lines, falling trees, and traffic delays were named among the possible consequences of the storm.
The massive torrents have completely flooded several streets, with pedestrians having to literally wade through them.
Some of the temporary rivers are reported to be over half a meter deep.
Moscow City and the region around were left without power during the storm
Some 30 flights have been postponed at three major Moscow air hubs due to the ravaging storm that engulfed the city.
However, there have been no cancellations so far and the airports continue to operate as usual.
While no casualties have been reported within the city, three people have been slightly injured in the storm in Moscow Region.
The strong wind has knocked down trees and teared off roofs from several houses. As a result three people have received minor injuries and bruises.
The meteorologists believe the foul weather came to Russia from Belarus. Next city in the eye of the storm is Nizhny Novgorod, about 400km east of Moscow.
