A force nine storm is approaching the center of Russia and Moscow

In the capital on April 19, ⅔ of the monthly precipitation may fall. 

A force nine storm is approaching Central Russia and Moscow. In the capital on Friday, April 19, ⅔ of the monthly precipitation may fall, wind gusts in some places can reach up to 25 meters per second, leading specialist of the Phobos Weather Center Evgeny Tishkovets told RIA Novosti.

“From 15:00 on Friday, intensifying in the evening, wind gusts will reach storm levels - 17-22 meters per second, in some places up to 25 meters per second, and the elements will subside only by the middle of Saturday night. On the Beaufort scale, this is a force nine storm, when the wind speed reaches 80-90 kilometers per hour,” Tishkovets said.

According to him, with such an air flow, the wind load per square meter of area reaches 44 kilograms, which means that at the end of the working week the wind will bend trees, break large branches, tear down advertising structures, roofing and other structures. “There is a high probability of falling objects. There is a threat to the life and health of people, and damage to vehicles is possible. Due to the drift, aircraft landings during such critical wind conditions may be limited or prohibited. The Bryansk, Oryol, Tula, Kaluga and Moscow regions will fall into the storm zone with winds of more than 20 meters per second. This is not a training alert, but a combat alert,” the forecaster added.

In Moscow, city services have been placed on high alert due to the expected worsening of weather conditions on April 18 and 19. Emergency teams from engineering companies and prefectures of administrative districts are on duty around the clock. The functioning of life support systems is under special control. Residents were urged to be more careful on the street in bad weather, not to take shelter under trees or park cars near them.