Arkhangelsk is rightfully considered among the cities of the Russian North not only one of the largest, but also the most remarkable. First of all, its favorable location has always affected the state significance of this settlement. It is located in the extreme west of the European part of our country, at the mouth of one of its largest and most significant rivers - the Northern Dvina, which carries its waters to the White Sea. This city is indeed located in an extremely convenient geographical point, playing the role of a navigation hub, connecting river and sea waterways. That is why Arkhangelsk has always been famous as a major port city, the sea gate of the country. It is also known for its history and has many attractions. Naturally, the location affects the climate of Arkhangelsk, which is formed under the influence of the northern seas and air masses reaching it from the Atlantic.
Subarctic Marine
Arkhangelsk region is located on the border of the northern zone and temperate latitudes. Some of it belongs toterritories of the Far North. Since the city is located in close proximity to the White Sea, it means that the climate of Arkhangelsk is, first of all, maritime. This indicates that high cloudiness and high humidity are observed here throughout the year. Clear weather is a long-awaited rarity, cloudy and rainy days are the vast majority. Moreover, about 600 mm of precipitation falls annually, which is associated with the intensive formation of cyclones. All this is accompanied by strong, most often cold winds.
In these parts, the weather is prone to sudden changes, and such metamorphoses can be observed even within one day. This is far from a resort, and not everyone will like such a climate. Local residents complain that in the summer, when they are going to leave the city for the weekend, they are forced to take with them huge suitcases and backpacks with a variety of clothes for all seasons. This safety net is necessary in case of the vagaries of nature, which here is extremely unpredictable.
So what is the climate like in Arkhangelsk? Let's figure it out by looking at each season separately.
Winter
Many consider the local winter to be the most dreary of periods, so visitors are often disappointed. However, this city is not in vain called the soul of the Russian North. Winters in these parts are still beautiful, very snowy. Often they are accompanied by snowstorms, but it is at this time of the year that there are enough clear nights here. The days during the reign of cold in such latitudes are very short, because a little to the north the polar night is already setting in. Usually in December it gets brighter somewhere at 11 o'clock in the morning, but already laterdarkness comes again at four o'clock.
This is the climate of Arkhangelsk in winter. This season here is very long, cold, but compared to the continental regions, there are usually no particularly low temperatures, on average, about -13 ° C is observed. It is often possible to become an eyewitness even of a thaw. Frosts below -30 ° C occur only with the arrival of air masses from harsh Siberia. It happens that the dominance of cold comes for a long time and lasts more than two weeks. Old-timers remember the years when the -48 ° C mark on the thermometer turned out to be a real reality. But this was at the end of the last century, and recently such frosts have not been observed.
Northern Lights in Arkhangelsk
In fact, the real aurora in these parts can only be observed in rare cases. To admire such a spectacle, you need to go a little further north, at least to Murmansk or Norilsk. The radiance there is much more colorful and brighter. But flashes can be seen in the sky of Arkhangelsk. This is also a very impressive vision. At the same time, the dark night vault is completely covered with green patterns. Citizens and visitors say that such pictures are able to capture attention so much that observers forget about the bitter cold and literally become covered with frost, but do not leave their place, looking at the sky.
When it falls and how long it snows
Impressive snowdrifts in these parts are a great pride of the locals. When the kingdom comesice and snow, then this usually happens for a long time: for six months, or even for seven months. But this does not sadden the townspeople, but rather pleases. After all, you really want to take a break from the impassable autumn mud and endless dampness. Dry and warm autumn days are not typical for the climate of the city of Arkhangelsk, especially since long periods of such weather are not at all frequent. But when real snow falls, with it comes the dazzling cleanliness and whiteness of the streets.
In this region, snowflakes can please with their appearance already on October 1st. Although usually in this case, if snow falls, it soon melts. However, it all depends on the year, it happens that autumn drags on, and you have to meet the long-awaited winter only at the beginning of December. As a rule, snowdrifts and ice lie in the spring for a long time and disappear only by the end of April. It often snows in Arkhangelsk even in May, in the last days of spring.
Summer
Spring as a season is practically absent in these parts. Just at one moment, usually closer to May, the long-awaited warmth comes, and over the next couple of weeks all the snowdrifts rapidly melt, and nature blooms like magic.
Summer does not indulge in warmth, it is cool and very short. True, this time of year can also be hot. But such is the climate, and the weather in Arkhangelsk is too contrasting from season to season: either the summer is very hot, or vice versa - cold. Just warm and comfortable almost never happens.
Average summer temperature +17 °С. However, during cold snaps, frosts are possible at night even in July. Old-timers remember the year when in the very middle of summer there was a sudden heavy snowfall. The peak of warm days comes late and does not last long. But if the winds blow from the Kazakh steppes, then the heat can reach +35 °C. In August, it usually rains more often, the weather is no longer summery, and by the end of the month, real autumn may come to visit.
To have a comprehensive idea of the climate of Arkhangelsk by months, you should pay attention to the table below.
White Nights
This is a northern city, but still not so much that polar day and night are observed here. However, the geographical latitude of this region, of course, affects the daily illumination depending on the season. While in Arkhangelsk, you can witness such an interesting phenomenon as white nights. Local residents, admiring them, announce that Peter never dreamed of such as they are in Arkhangelsk. In this northern region, during periods of white nights, the Sun still sets over the horizon at night. However, it does not go low. For this reason, complete darkness does not occur, but only twilight is observed, but not too thick. If the weather is clear, night natural light makes it possible to perfectly distinguish surrounding objects and even read.
The impressive unusualness of this phenomenon in Arkhangelsk can be enjoyed starting on May 17th. White nights here last more than two months and end only in the last days of July. Visitors notice that life in the specified period of time in the city is simply in full swing and neverceases, because at night it is light, almost like during the day. It seems that there are not even ordinary 24 hours in a day, but much more.
Nature
Having described the climate in general terms, we should now talk about what the nature of this region is like. The north of the Arkhangelsk region belongs to the subarctic tundra zone. Further, the territory where permafrost dominates already begins. To the south of the northern border of the region, the forest-tundra with its swampy swamps stretches, and further - the endless forests of the taiga, rich in animals and a variety of flora. They adorn the nature of this region.
From tree species, spruce and pine dominate there, there are also larch and fir. This region impresses with its primordial virgin expressiveness and the grandeur of nature. Not everyone likes this harsh beauty. But, as evidenced by reviews of the climate of Arkhangelsk and its nature, many people like the local flora. True tourists are attracted by these lands, attracting with a we alth of impressions and the opportunity to truly experience themselves. After all, not everyone tends to go south to comfortable hotels.
Paradise for mushroom pickers and berry lovers
The climate of Arkhangelsk is such that the south of the region impresses with an abundance of various edible mushrooms. The most common porcini mushrooms, there are also many boletus, boletus, mushrooms and milk mushrooms.
The vast forests of the region amaze with a variety of berries. There are many of them among the swamps, such dangerous areas are very common in this area. If you show patience, you can enjoy wild blueberries, blueberries, raspberries, golden-yellow cloudberries, red and black currants, as well as vitamin-rich rose hips, mountain ash, cranberries, lingonberries. Some of these gifts of nature are sweet, others are downright he althy.
Many of the species of flora growing in this area are extremely rare, therefore they are listed in the Red Book. Among them are white water lily, Siberian fir, certain types of ferns and orchids.
Real disaster
The climate of Arkhangelsk, with its abundance of precipitation and constant high humidity, becomes extremely favorable for the reproduction of many disgusting parasitic insects. First of all, this applies to mosquitoes, which in these parts in the summer are apparently invisible. In some especially favorable seasons, they become so numerous that it is impossible to breathe outside the city without these annoying little creatures getting into the nose. There are a lot of ticks in the forests. Also, recently, as local residents complain, vipers have begun to spread, although such snakes have never been found in the Arkhangelsk region before.
