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A severe cold wave is dropping temperatures to near-record lows over the past several days in Russia’s Far East and Siberia, region well accustomed to extremely cold weather. Temperatures dropped below -50 °C (-58 °F) in some areas, more than 10 °C (18 °F) lower than the average for this time of year, and as low as -67 °C (-88.6 °F) in some areas.
On January 14, the temperature dropped to a near-record low of -62 °C (-79.6 °F) in the worlds coldest village – Oymyakon – in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), breaking the digital thermometer installed last year to appeal to tourists.
While some residents in Oymyakon saw temperatures as low as -67 °C (-88.6 °F), the officially measured temperature of -59 °C (-74.2 °F) on January 14 was not cool enough to break its record low of -67.7 °C (-89.8 °F) set in February 1933.
Authorities closed schools in some areas and urged locals to stay at home but a group of Chinese tourists took the opportunity to make headlines by taking a bath in the local geothermal spring:
The video, however, is still not as viral as this one:
Yakutia is home to some 1 million people and well accustomed to such temperatures.
“For us this is normal,” one resident told The Siberian Times. “It’s strange that journalists call and ask how you live here. I answer, you come and see for yourself that we live an ordinary life.”
However, the weather these days was tragic for at least 2 people who froze to death after their care broke on the road. Three other men who were with them survived because they were wearing warmer clothes, officials said Monday, January 15, 2018.
Temperature – world – 12:00 UTC, January 14, 2018. Credit: earth.nullschool.net
Featured image: Digital thermometer that broke after -62 °C (-79.6 °F) registered on January 14, 2018. Credit: sivtseva9452 (Instagram)