Rare Thundersnow Strikes Ural Mountains, Ripping Off Roofs and Causing Power Outages

Nov. 6, 2026 High winds knocked down a festive tree during a strong snowstorm on Nov. 6, 2026. Social media A powerful winter thunderstorm lashed the Ural Mountains region of Russia on Friday morning, with officials and media outlets reporting that high winds ripped off the roofs of buildings and caused power outages in several regions. Videos and photos circulating on social media captured blizzard conditions in Yekaterinburg, the capital of the Sverdlovsk region, with strong winds ripping off roofs and sending debris flying through the air. “Winter arrived in Yekaterinburg with gusty winds, heavy snowfall and a thunderstorm, which the Yekaterinburg weather station recorded at 10 a.m. local time,” the Sverdlovsk region’s weather service Uralhydromet said in a statement. Meteorologists said a low-pressure system drove a cold front through the Ural mountain range, dropping temperatures below freezing and turning rain into snow. Partial blackouts were reported in at least 12 towns with a total population of around 90,000, according to the Emergency Situations Ministry’s regional branch, which said outages were concentrated mostly in the southeastern part of the Sverdlovsk region. One person was reportedly killed in a highway traffic accident due to icy road conditions. Officials did not immediately confirm the death. Yekaterinburg’s main railway station was also damaged, the news outlet Ostorozhno Novosti reported. It said the neighboring Chelyabinsk and Perm regions also reported heavy snowfall, partial blackouts and roofs damaged by strong winds. Meteorologists said they expect the low-pressure system to move north along the Ural mountain range throughout Friday, spreading blizzards across the northern Sverdlovsk region and leaving behind freezing temperatures with icy roads before weakening over the weekend. Read more about: Weather , Urals , Sverdlovsk , Yekaterinburg Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Drone Hits High-Rise Apartment Building in Yekaterinburg as Ukraine Targets Wildberries Hub Local authorities said at least four people were injured during the drone barrage while several residential buildings were damaged. 1 Min read Rare Tornado Hits City in Russia’s Ural Mountains Dozens of homes were completely leveled and at least 16 people were injured, local officials said. 1 Min read Ex-Sverdlovsk Governor Detained in Urals Utilities Corruption Case Oleg Chemezov is reportedly among 14 individuals and 80 companies named as co-defendants in the lawsuit. 2 Min read 2 Elderly Russian Women Freeze to Death in Unheated Homes The series of deaths came as freezing weather continued to grip much of Russia. 1 Min read