Temperatures in some areas of Siberia have dropped to -50 degrees Celsius, while snowstorms have swept through the Russian capital, Moscow, bringing record snowfall that has disrupted flight schedules as winter weather engulfs Russia. Meteorological stations in the region reported that temperatures in the Sakha Republic, located in northeastern Siberia and home to Yakutsk, one of the coldest cities in the world, dropped below -50 degrees Celsius.
The cold wave, which occurred earlier than usual in Sakha, has led to temperatures falling below -50 degrees Celsius in several regions of the republic, which is vast and slightly smaller than India. Almost all of Sakha is situated in a permafrost zone. In the regional capital, Yakutsk, located about five thousand kilometers east of Moscow, temperatures range from -44 degrees Celsius to -48 degrees Celsius.
The occurrence of temperatures dropping below -50 degrees Celsius has become less common in recent years due to climate change, as the permafrost area shows increasing signs of melting. In the Russian capital, snowfall—considered one of the highest recorded amounts—has delayed flights at several airports today, as heavy snow covered the runways.
According to Russian media, at least 54 flights were delayed, and five others were canceled at the three largest airports in the capital. Temperatures in Moscow are expected to drop to around -18 degrees Celsius later this week.
