Torrential rain and thunderstorms swept across Moscow on Tuesday, inundating streets, underground passages, shopping centers and parking garages. Videos from the capital showed vehicles partially submerged and traffic backed up on major arteries, while lightning strikes were reported near the Ostankino television tower. The city’s meteorological service said some districts received about 30 millimeters of rain—roughly the average monthly total—in less than two hours. Other areas logged half their normal July rainfall within a few hours, turning underpasses into rivers and forcing pedestrians to wade through waist-deep water. The Russian Emergencies Ministry issued an orange-level warning, advising residents to stay indoors and keep clear of trees and unstable structures. No injuries had been reported by late afternoon, but city transport officials said several metro stations and the Aeroexpress link to Sheremetyevo Airport experienced temporary service disruptions. The deluge followed a heatwave that pushed temperatures above 30 °C last weekend. Climate scientists note that Russia is warming more than twice as fast as the global average, increasing the likelihood of both prolonged heat spells and intense downpours such as Tuesday’s storm.