Heavy snow storms and gales are sweeping through Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. The blizzards are giving thousands of residents in the Far East their first taste of severe winter weather this year. Authorities have issued a storm alert, fearing further snowfalls could cause avalanches.
In some areas, the wind speed has reached 45 metres per second.
Forecasters are predicting the storm will get worse in the course of Monday. But conditions are expected to improve with the start of the New Year.
Earlier, strong winds and heavy snow ripped through the Khabarovsk Region and Sakhalin Island, causing widespread electricity blackouts. ( RT )