Winter Finally Arrives In Russia Two Months Behind Schedule - AFP

Two people froze to death in Moscow Thursday as snow storms, icy winds and transport troubles signalled the long-awaited arrival of winter, ending an exceptionally mild stretch of weather in Russia. "Full-fledged winter has arrived in the European part of Russia," Roman Vilfand, director of the state Meteorological Centre, said. The two deaths in the Russian capital were from hypothermia, while eight others were hospitalised over the past 24 hours, Russian news agencies reported, citing the health services.
Temperatures of about minus 10 Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) accompanied a thick snowfall over Moscow. Gusty winds filled the air with ice crystals.

On the roads, traffic slowed to a standstill, while 16 flights to the capital's Vnukovo airport and two bound for nearby Domededovo Airport were diverted, Interfax news agency reported.

Moscow traffic police spokesman Igor Koloskov said there had been 1,650 minor traffic accidents since Wednesday, up from the usual level of about 1,000-1,200 a day.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Russian_Winter_Arrives_In_Force_Just_Two_Months_Late_999.html

It was snowing in october then. Ground frozen by december. The Volga frozen solid in late Dec early Jan. Ground iron hard by early jan.

Two descriptions in the book were incredible. To paraphrase, "the ground was so hard, that it gave off a metallic like "clink" when people walked on it" the other was, "the mortar rounds bounced off the ground because it was to hard to be penetrated and as a result exploded in the air causing more injuries due to the air burst."

Now that is some hard frozen ground.

No more.