In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, winter this year has become not an "ordinary season," but a real test. The "Kamchatka-Inform" agency, citing the regional hydrometeorological center, reports that 370 mm of precipitation fell in the region in December 2025, which is 316% of the monthly norm. In the first half of January 2026, another 163.6 mm of snow fell on the city - which is 150% of the monthly norm.
The result is clear: the snow cover in the city has reached a height of up to 170 cm, and in some areas it has exceeded 2.5 meters. On social media, locals are writing about "snow drifts up to 5 meters" - this sounds like a joke, but the situation is not a joke.
Emergency regime, avalanche hazard, and snowmelt operation
A municipal emergency regime is still in effect in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Although it was reported that cyclones began to recede by January 17, an avalanche warning remained in the region. On the night of Monday alone, 2,500 cubic meters of snow were removed from the city streets.
Kamchatogidromet head Vera Polyakova called the weather conditions of the last month and a half an extreme category and said that such cases are very rare. He noted that such a scale was last recorded in the early 1970s - when several months of precipitation accumulated in a short period.
Transport stopped, people were transported by special buses
Against the backdrop of the "snow collapse," passenger bus traffic in the city was temporarily suspended. People were transported in special buses intended for the maintenance and improvement services of the Rosgvardia auto-zaks. Only from January 17, bus traffic was restored with certain restrictions.
Snow has entered homes: rescuers, military personnel, expensive services
Some houses are covered with snow, and residents are literally "imprisoned." Rescuers and military personnel are assisting in clearing the areas. At the same time, the market immediately responded: it is said that the cost of cleaning houses and cars from snow at Avito has risen to 80 thousand rubles.
Due to the intensification of snowfall, garbage removal is practically out of order: municipal equipment cannot enter the snow-covered courtyards. Regional institutions and schools have switched to remote work.
Unfortunately, there are also tragic cases: on January 15, local authorities reported that two people died due to snow falling from roofs. It is also noted that there is a shortage of some products around the shops, and queues have formed at large retail outlets. Officials are patrolling stores, monitoring the availability of essential goods.
Warnings, Volunteers and Procedures
The authorities warn the population through loudspeakers and recommend not to leave the house unnecessarily. The volunteer group, formed on the basis of the emergency headquarters, is helping pensioners, people with disabilities, large families, and the families of participants in the Ukrainian war to clear snow, deliver food and medicine.
On January 19, after a commission meeting, Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov ordered the prompt cleaning of important roads in the city and passageways between blocks. Also, traffic police officers began to manually regulate traffic at the busiest intersections.
Fantasies "added" by videos, real footage, and artificial intelligence
Residents of Kamchatka are actively posting videos on social networks depicting life in these difficult conditions: how ambulance workers are trying to reach the patient through snowdrifts and snow-covered entrances, how people are sometimes forced to leave through windows, the processes of rescuing cars from the snow - all these are real-life footage.
At the same time as these videos became widespread, "extreme" videos created by artificial intelligence appeared on the internet: they show snowdrifts seemingly reaching the ninth floor, and people "slip" out of their homes. But the real scene itself is hard enough - there's no need for excessive dramatization here.
In conclusion, the situation in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky has not yet fully softened: although snowfall has begun, the risks remain. The best strategy today is to follow the rules, be careful, and not abandon each other. This winter is not a "season" for Kamchatka, but an event that is going down in history.
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