MOSCOW - Blizzards swept across swathes of Russia on Dec 15, carpeting Moscow in one of the biggest snowfalls in decades and sowing chaos on major roads, where truck drivers battled more than 20cm of snow and strong winds.

A cyclone brought more than a day of constant blizzards to the Russian capital in what could be one of the strongest snow storms to hit Moscow in 60 years, according to meteorologists.

More than one-fifth of the average snowfall for December was recorded over just 24 hours at metrological stations across Moscow, where streets were blanketed in snow and motorists struggled to get their cars out of parking spaces.

The Gismeteo weather website said total December snowfall in Moscow could reach 50cm – the highest recorded for that month.

Schools in some regions of European Russia were closed due to the snowfall, Russian television reported.

A vast 10km traffic jam formed overnight on one of Russia’s major roads – the M4 – to the south, trapping motorists in freezing temperatures.

The Kommersant newspaper said prices to dig out cars in Moscow had soared to around 5,000 roubles (S$74). REUTERS