At around 0830 local time (0530 GMT), the airport announced it was halting all flights and planned to resume operations shortly. However, this has been postponed until weather conditions improve.

Artyom Korenyako, a spokesman for the national aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia, wrote in his Telegram account that as of 1235 local time, 33 planes bound for St Petersburg had been redirected to alternate airports, primarily in Moscow.

Mash Telegram channel posted a video showing what it said was one of the planes waiting for departure from St. Petersburg, with passengers seated in the cabin and the outer panes of the windows heavily iced. It was unclear how long people have been waiting inside the aircraft.

According to Pulkovo’s website, the last plane landed at the airport at 0740 local time (0440 GMT) and the last departure was at around 0430 local time.

Korenyako said that the preliminary time for resumption of operations is set for 1320 local time, although the heavy precipitation continues.