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

A powerful winter thunderstorm hit Russia’s Ural Mountains region on Friday, bringing heavy snow, blizzard conditions and strong winds that tore roofs from buildings and disrupted electricity. The storm’s rapid change from rain to snow, driven by a cold front and falling temperatures, left roads icy and caused damage across several regions.

Partial power cuts affected at least 12 towns in Sverdlovsk region, home to around 90,000 people, mainly in the southeast. One person was reportedly killed in an ice-related road accident, though officials had not confirmed the death; Yekaterinburg’s main railway station was also reported damaged. Forecasters expected blizzards and freezing conditions to spread north before the system weakened over the weekend.