Overnight Temperatures Plummet to -44.4°C in Western Mongolia
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Synopsis
Ulan Bator, Jan 27 (NationPress) reported that Otgon soum in Zavkhan province, western Mongolia, recorded a chilling temperature of minus 44.4 degrees Celsius overnight from Saturday to Sunday, marking the coldest winter record so far.
Key Takeaways
- Temperature hit -44.4°C in Otgon soum.
- Colder than average temperatures expected this winter.
- Warnings issued for extreme cold conditions.
- Significant snowfall anticipated in Ulan Bator.
- High risk of 'dzud' impacting livestock.
Ulan Bator, Jan 27 (NationPress) The temperature dropped to minus 44.4 degrees Celsius in Otgon soum, part of Zavkhan province in western Mongolia, during the night from Saturday to Sunday, as reported by the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring on Monday.
This marks the coldest temperature recorded in Mongolia this winter, according to a statement from the weather agency.
The agency has indicated that most regions of Mongolia are likely to experience temperatures colder than the long-term average for the remainder of the winter.
With its markedly continental climate, this Asian nation undergoes prolonged and harsh winters, where temperatures reaching minus 25 degrees Celsius are commonplace.
Over the weekend, the weather authorities cautioned residents to prepare for severe cold temperatures in the upcoming days, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The forecast suggests that starting Saturday, frigid air from Siberia will move across extensive areas of Mongolia, resulting in overnight lows potentially surpassing minus 40 degrees Celsius.
"Last year, the coldest temperature recorded in our nation was minus 48.8 degrees Celsius on January 23 in the western province of Zavkhan," the agency stated, anticipating similar weather patterns to affect western regions this weekend.
Moreover, other areas, especially the national capital Ulan Bator, are expected to face temperatures 10-15 degrees colder than recent days, with significant snowfall forecasted throughout the weekend.
This cold snap is predicted to cause major disruptions, with the public—particularly nomadic herders—advised to take protective measures for themselves and their livestock against the harsh conditions, as reported by Xinhua.
Numerous soums across various provinces in Mongolia are dealing with extreme winter weather.
Earlier in the month, the agency warned that around 40 percent of the nation’s terrain is at substantial risk of facing extreme wintry conditions known as 'dzud' this winter.
'Dzud' is a term in Mongolia that describes an exceptionally cold winter, often leading to the death of livestock due to frozen ground or snow cover.
Most regions in the five western provinces—Bayan-Ulgii, Uvs, Khovd, Zavkhan, and Gobi-Altai—were assessed to be at high or very high risk, according to the agency.
In addition, certain areas in northern provinces such as Khuvsgul, Selenge, and Bulgan, as well as central provinces Arkhangai and Uvurkhangai, along with minor parts of the southern provinces of Bayankhongor and Dundgovi, are also flagged as high risk.
Mongolia, recognized as one of the last true nomadic nations, is infamous for its severe winters, heavily influenced by the Siberian high-pressure system.
Last winter, the nation saw the heaviest snowfall in five decades, resulting in a severe dzud that caused the loss of millions of livestock.
The interplay of freezing temperatures and erratic weather patterns frequently leads to dire consequences for both human and animal populations.
In a heartbreaking incident, over 10 individuals, primarily nomadic herders, lost their lives in November 2023 due to severe snow and blizzards in central Tuv and eastern Sukhbaatar.
Last winter, nearly all 21 provinces in Mongolia faced extreme winter conditions, coupled with record snowfall, the highest since 1975. Approximately 90 percent of the country's land was blanketed by snow up to 100 centimeters thick, resulting in the death of around eight million livestock.
