Winter

After a brief autumn, the first snows of winter usually come rather quickly around mid-October or early November. Temperatures usually hover between +5 and -5C (41 and 23F) until around mid-January, where it averages -10 or -15C (14 or 5F) through mid-March. Be advised that winter temps can briefly drop as low as -25C (-13F) or flirt with 0C (32F) for a number of weeks. If you visit in the winter, it is a good idea to prepare yourself for the extreme cold with a heavy jacket, gloves, hat, scarf, and a good set of shoes or boots to handle both icy and slushy conditions.

Spring

The first signs of spring can come as early as mid to late March and as late as the end of April or early May. As this season tends to have an extreme nature, one day can be full of 17C (57F) sunshine while the following 3 days can drop to -3C (26F) with light snow. Prepare yourself for generally slushy conditions during days, and icy conditions in the evenings, and later in the season, expect summer to arrive in full effect by the end of May.

Summer

Like the Russian winter, summer has a way of sneaking up on you. Sometimes, it seems, the snow has barely begun to melt before the mercury begins to ascend steadily upward without looking back. But once it's here, expect an occasional warm thundershower and average temperatures around 23-30C (73-86F). Sometimes thermometers will read 35C (95F), but more often than not, the weather is comfortable with a touch of humidity in the air. More than that, the entire population of the city seems to spend as much time outdoors as possible, surrounding themselves with the lush greenery, and late hours of sunlight. At times it can be hot and sticky, so be sure to wear light, loose fitting clothes and remember to hydrate yourself regularly.

Fall

Like Spring, the short Fall season feels more like a quick buffer between summer and winter. Nonetheless, as the warm season dims, you can usually expect one last hurrah in early to mid-September affectionately referred to as "Women's Summer". Temperatures will vary widely during these months, ranging from a warm and sunny 25C (77F) one week to a cool and overcast 10C (50F) the next. It will be a good idea to dress in layers during this time, and always keep an extra sweater handy, even if it is warm during the day.