The start of the bathing season in St. Petersburg in 2025 is delayed due to slow water warming in the Gulf of Finland. According to the city’s chief meteorologist, Alexander Kolesov, the water temperature is only around 11-12 degrees Celsius.

The Gulf of Finland is currently too cold for swimming, and there are no immediate signs of improvement. Coastal areas like Lisy Nos have slightly warmer temperatures of around 15 degrees Celsius, but the water is very shallow.

Kolesov attributes the slow warming to frequent cyclones, cloud cover, and short-term rains. He expects the air temperature to remain at the same level for another 10 days before any significant warming occurs.

Several days of hot, sunny weather are needed for the water to fully warm up. An anticyclone is required to maintain consistent warmth, as the water cools down quickly when the weather becomes cloudy.

This year’s bathing season is starting later than usual. Last year, warm weather at the end of May allowed swimming to begin at that time. Typically, the bathing season starts in early June.

Forecasters predict above-average temperatures for each summer month. June may see temperatures rise to 24-29 degrees Celsius on certain days, with an average expected temperature of 17 degrees Celsius. July’s average temperature is expected to be 20 degrees Celsius, which is also above normal.

June is likely to have normal or above-normal precipitation due to thunderstorms. July is predicted to have normal precipitation, while August is expected to have a slight deficit.

Smaller bodies of water, such as quarries and lakes, are warming up faster. In the southern Leningrad Region, the water temperature in rivers is already around 18 degrees Celsius, which is warmer than the water in St. Petersburg.

Rospotrebnadzor and the Ministry of Emergency Situations remind residents that swimming is prohibited outside of designated and equipped areas. As of early June, Rospotrebnadzor has identified only three St. Petersburg beaches with water safe for swimming.