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09.01.2026

How the snow cover was formed in the first month of winter: data and trends

During the first month of winter, an average of 36 mm of precipitation fell in the republic, constituting 81% of the climatic norm. Precipitation was unevenly distributed across the country. Over most of the territory, 50-100% of the climatic precipitation norm was recorded.
Precipitation fell in the form of rain, snow, and sleet. A snow cover formed in the middle of the second decade of December, but its presence was short-lived. During the third decade, the snow cover became established again and persisted until the end of the month. On the last day of last year, the maximum snow depth was recorded at the Mstislavl station, measuring 18 cm

The average date for the appearance of the first snow cover across most of the republic falls between the 5th and 20th of November, while a stable snow cover typically establishes itself in December.
During the cold season, the proportion of rainfall and mixed precipitation is increasingly growing. This is due to rising air temperatures, particularly in winter, which impedes snow accumulation.
There are years when a stable snow cover forms as early as late October, while other winters have seen it establish only in late January or early February. Occasionally, snow doesn't persist continuously for an entire month; such years are classified as having no stable snow cover.
The height of the snow cover mainly depends on the amount of precipitation and the temperature conditions of the cold period. In cold winters, there is a regular increase in the height of the snow cover during the winter. The maximum snow accumulation, depending on the temperature of early spring, occurs either at the end of February or in March.

The maximum recorded winter snow depth for the republic was registered in Lyntupy (72 cm) during the winter of 1964-65.

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