Russians Dive Into the First Days of Winter

With December just around the corner, snow is falling across Russia’s 11 time zones, bringing one of the year’s most picturesque seasons with it. During this time of the year, some Russians are kicking off the winter swimming season, while others stay fully bundled up until the frost starts to melt again.

But climate change is making Russia’s notoriously cold winters increasingly unpredictable. Last winter was one of the warmest in Russian history. This year, weather experts predict another mild winter with occasional heavier-than-normal snowfall.

Here's a look at the first days of winter in regions across the country: