Severe cold snap devastates South African crops
Unusually cold temperatures have severely impacted agriculture in South Africa this month, particularly in Limpopo Province.
Unusually cold temperatures have severely impacted agriculture in South Africa this month, particularly in Limpopo Province.
As a polar wave continues to affect Argentina, the city of Gualeguaychú hit a record-breaking low temperature of -7.6 °C (18.3 °F) on July 9, 2024. Meanwhile, all provinces of Argentina recorded temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) on July 10, 2024. The severe cold snap prompted authorities to issue numerous Red, Orange, and Yellow alerts for extreme cold.
A severe cold snap has been affecting most of Argentina, including the capital Buenos Aires, since Saturday, July 6, 2024, with Patagonia becoming one of the coldest regions of the world. Argentina’s National Meteorological Service issued an Orange alert for regions surrounding the county’s capital and Yellow alerts for most other provinces.
Mongolia has experienced its heaviest snowfall since 1975 this winter, with the government reporting one fatality and the loss of nearly 668 000 livestock due to severe cold and blizzards. Disaster relief efforts were initiated on February 19, focusing on providing essential aid, including food, fuel, and livestock feed, to affected communities.
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has set a new record for low temperatures, reaching -52.3 °C (-62.14 °F) in Fuyun County, leading to the death of numerous birds and surpassing a cold record held since 1960. Amidst the Chinese Lunar New Year’s return, this severe cold has resulted in extensive traffic disruptions and emergency responses across the region.
The British Columbia wine industry is bracing for unprecedented crop losses due to an extreme cold event in January 2024, with preliminary estimates forecasting a production decrease of 97 – 99%, resulting in industry-wide revenue losses between $440 – 445 million.
The United States is bracing for its first significant Arctic air outbreak of the winter, impacting the north-central region with bitterly cold wind chills and extending through the weekend. The northern Rockies and Plains are particularly at risk, with the Arctic surge also expected to bring record-breaking cold to the south-central U.S.
Finland experienced its coldest January temperature since 2006 when Enontekiö Airport registered -42.4 °C (-44.3 °F) on January 4, 2024. The severe cold is not isolated to Finland, as nearby regions in Sweden and Norway have also reported record-low temperatures, indicating a widespread Arctic chill across the Nordic countries.
A severe cold snap has gripped the Nordic region, with Sweden experiencing its coldest January night in 25 years. This extreme weather has caused widespread disruption across Scandinavia, closing schools and halting transport, while Storm Henk brought heavy rain and strong winds to Western Europe, leading to one fatality and widespread damage.
Beijing has recorded its longest cold wave since records began in 1951, with the capital experiencing more than 300 hours of sub-zero temperatures since December 11.