40% of Mongolia Faces Significant Risk of Harsh Winter Conditions
Click to start listening
Ulan Bator, Jan 3 (NationPress) At least 40% of Mongolia's territory is currently at a high risk of facing extreme winter conditions referred to as dzud this season, according to a statement released by the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring on Friday.
The term dzud describes a harsh winter in Mongolia, during which numerous livestock perish due to frozen ground or heavy snow cover.
“A recent risk evaluation reveals that approximately 40% of the nation’s entire territory is at high risk of dzud this winter, with 20% classified as medium risk,” the weather monitoring agency stated.
Many regions in the five western provinces, including Bayan-Ulgii, Uvs, Khovd, Zavkhan, and Gobi-Altai, are facing a high or very high risk, the agency cautioned, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Moreover, several areas in the northern provinces of Khuvsgul, Selenge, and Bulgan, as well as the central provinces of Arkhangai and Uvurkhangai, and certain smaller regions in the southern provinces of Bayankhongor and Dundgovi, are also at significant risk.
The agency has urged local officials and nomadic herders to make necessary preparations to counter possible challenges posed by the severe winter conditions.
Mongolia, recognized as one of the last nomadic nations globally, is famed for its harsh winters, predominantly influenced by the Siberian high-pressure system.
Last winter, the country faced its most intense snowfall in fifty years, resulting in a devastating dzud that led to the death of millions of livestock.
On December 23, Mongolia's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had issued a severe weather alert for various regions, forecasting strong winds and blizzards.
These blizzards were anticipated to affect the western, central, and southern Gobi provinces, causing reduced visibility on roads and treacherous conditions. The NEMA advised citizens, particularly nomadic herders and drivers, to exercise caution and implement preventive measures against potential disasters.
The interplay of frigid temperatures and erratic weather patterns frequently results in tragic outcomes for both human and livestock populations, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
In a heartbreaking instance of such dangers, over 10 individuals, predominantly nomadic herders, lost their lives in November 2023 due to heavy snow and blizzards in the central province of Tuv and the eastern province of Sukhbaatar.
Last winter, nearly all 21 provinces across the country experienced extreme winter conditions, accompanied by record-breaking snowfall, the largest recorded since 1975. About 90% of the nation’s territory was blanketed in snow reaching up to 100 centimeters thick, resulting in the death of around 8 million livestock.
