Russians witnessed some of the hottest weather in more than a century on Thursday, with Moscow breaking a record set in 1917 when temperatures across the country topped 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit).

In Moscow, where winter temperatures can drop to minus 40 degrees Celsius, the temperature soared to 32.7 degrees Celsius on July 3, surpassing the 1917 record for that day by half a degree, according to the FOBOS weather center. .

Temperature records were scattered from Russia’s Pacific coast and Siberia to its European territories. The sweltering heat led to increased demand for air conditioners and fans, while Muscovites consumed record amounts of ice cream and cold drinks. Water was distributed among the passengers in metro and many trains.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin urged residents of the Moscow metropolitan area, which has a population of more than 20 million, to take precautions and avoid going outside during the hottest hours of the day.

“During the day, air temperatures will rise above the climate norm and rise above 30 degrees again,” Sobyanin said.

Sobyanin added that thunderstorms are expected on Friday, with a chance of hail.

Temperatures in Moscow reached 32.5 degrees Celsius (90.5 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, surpassing the record set in 1917, according to Roman Welfand, director of the Rozgidromet weather service.

Temperatures will exceed 24.5 degrees Celsius during the coming nights, Welfund told the RIA Novosti news agency, calling these “Egyptian nights” dangerous as they prevent people from cooling down after high daytime temperatures. Stops.

Earlier, Russian Hydrometeorological Center scientific chief Roman Velfund informed TASS that the air temperature today warmed up to 32 degrees Celsius, the highest level recorded in 1890. Earlier, the maximum temperature for the day was 31.9 degrees Celsius.

Additionally, the metropolitan area remains under an orange weather alert until noon on Thursday, July 4. On color maps, it indicates weather conditions with high potential for natural disasters and damage.