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Relief in sight for Russia as heat wave set to fade

© RIA Novosti . Mikhail Fomichev / Go to the mediabankRelief in sight for Russia as heat wave set to fade
Relief in sight for Russia as heat wave set to fade - Sputnik International
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A high pressure system, which has brought abnormally hot weather to central Russia, could start fading away next week, a top Russian meteorologist said Thursday.

A high pressure system, which has brought abnormally hot weather to central Russia, could start fading away next week, a top Russian meteorologist said Thursday.

"The high pressure system over central Russia will start dissipating next Tuesday. For the first time since June 21 we are noticing changes in the atmospheric circulation," said Roman Vilfand, the head of the Russian state meteorological center.

A scorching heat wave has gripped much of European Russia since mid-June, which coupled with the worst drought since the 1970s has made the countryside particularly susceptible to wildfires.

Thousands of emergency workers and military personnel have been working round the clock for almost three weeks to fight fires in 22 Russian regions, which have so far killed more than 50 people and left over 3,500 homeless. The immediate economic cost of the fires has been estimated at $15 billion.

Vilfand said that the conditions for smog formation around Moscow would remain until next week due to continuing wildfires and peat bog fires outside the capital and an unfavorable air circulation.

"These conditions move the smog from fire-stricken areas [into Moscow]," the scientist said, adding that a new smog wave would most likely suffocate the Russian capital again over the coming weekend.

 

MOSCOW, August 12 (RIA Novosti)

 

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