A hurricane that hit St Petersburg and its environs on Saturday, 11 July, knocked down at least 51 trees in the Catherine Park and 98 in the Alexander Park; the numbers are being constantly updated and already approaching 70 and 130, respectively. The aftermath in the Babolovo Park is not verified yet.

The most damaged areas in the Catherine Park include: the Ramp Alley, running from the Ramp of the Cameron Gallery down to the Orlov Gate; the Oak Grove near the Orlov gate; and the Perimeter Alley running alongside the park's southern fence from the Orlov Gate towards the To-my-Dear-Comrades-in-Arms Gate. The Private Garden has lost one of its two 80-year-old ornamental Manchurian cherry or Amur chokecherry trees (Prunus maackii) native to the Russian Far East. The Ramp has some of its Cycas plants uprooted and flower beds damaged.

Our park maintenance team started urgent works as soon as the strong wind and rain and hail stopped on Saturday evening. But the post-hurricane recovery will take at least two weeks.

As of now, the Catherine Park has all its entrances open but some areas still cordoned off. The Alexander Park is closed except the palace gate. Works in the Babolovo Park will follow after the other two parks. Please do not cross into the cordoned areas until all the dangerous trees are removed and the parks are safe.