Extreme Temperatures
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Snowflake Cold

Millions brace for winter storm in the US: incoming heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain


KOMO News
Sun, 25 Jan 2026 14:25 UTC
Heavy snow and ice to impact millions as winter storm sweeps across US
Heavy snow and ice to impact millions as winter storm sweeps across US
A "high-impact and far-reaching" winter storm is underway in parts of the U.S., with "significant" weather forecasted throughout most of the nation.

NWS said conditions "rapidly deteriorated" across Texas overnight, but the most widespread round of wintry weather is set to occur from Saturday evening into Sunday morning.

"Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills are spreading into the area and will remain in place into Monday," NWS in Fort Worth said on X. "Low temperatures will be mostly in the single digits for the next few nights, with wind chills as low as minus 12 degrees Fahrenheit."

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Snowflake

Heavy snowfall on mount Etna, Italy

Neve Appennino
YouTube
Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:44 UTC
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A beautiful snowfall is underway on Mount Etna thanks to the intensity of Cyclone Harry, which is causing very high rainfall across the island. Video shared by Etna Snow

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Snowflake

Sahara dunes dusted with snow in striking sight


MSN
Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:11 UTC
Snow cover on Saharan sand dunes in Aïn Séfra, Algieria on January 17, 2026.
© Karim Bouchetatasnow cover on Saharan sand dunes in Aïn Séfra, Algieria on January 17, 2026.
The dunes of the Sahara were whitened by a layer of snow on January 17, video from Ain Sefra in north Algeria shows.

Video filmed by Karim Bouchetata shows locals taking in the unusually white desert landscape amid roaring wind.

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Arrow Down

Recovery continues after 8 skiers killed in avalanches in Austrian Alps


South China Morning Post
Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:32 UTC
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© Salzburg Mountain RescueThe scene of an avalanche near Bad Hofgastein, Austria.
Eight people killed in three separate avalanche accidents in Austria were citizens of the Czech Republic and Austria, authorities said on Sunday.

The deadliest incident on Saturday occurred in the Grossarl Valley in the state of Salzburg, where three men aged 53, 63 and 65 were killed. A 60-year-old woman also died after being buried by snow.

The victims were part of a group on an alpine ski course offered by the Austrian Alpine Club, the organisation announced on Sunday.

"Risk competence and safety awareness are top priorities in our courses. This accident hurts deeply," said Jörg Randl, head of mountain sports for the club.
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Arrow Down

Six skiers die in French Alps in avalanche-related incidents

Zane Lilley
The Connexion
Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:37 UTC
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© Marcus Placidus/ShutterstockIn certain conditions, a single skier in an off-piste section of a resort can cause an avalanche. Photo for illustrative purposes only
A deadly weekend in the Alps saw six skiers including a British national die in avalanche-related incidents.

In all five incidents skiers were off-piste despite warnings from state forecaster Météo France and prefectural authorities about the risk of the activity.

On Saturday (January 10), two skiers died in Val-d'Isère (Savoie) after an avalanche buried them in 2.5 metres of snow. Members of their group skiing with them alerted authorities but they were announced dead at the scene following emergency services arriving.

A third skier died in the Arêches Beaufort resort (also in Savoie). Skiing off-piste, he was caught in an avalanche alongside a companion.

A patroller at the resort noticed from snow patterns that an avalanche was imminent. He launched his detector and soon after found the two skiers trapped in the snow.

Comment: Related: Recovery continues after 8 skiers killed in avalanches in Austria

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Snowflake Cold

Parts of Florida receive rare snowfall as freezing temperatures linger

Chandelis Duster
npr.org
Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:43 UTC
A rare snow is seen in Holt, Florida, on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.
© Danielle BrahierRare snow is seen in Holt, Florida, on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.
A rare snowfall covered parts of the Sunshine State on Sunday for the second year in a row, while freezing temperatures will continue to grip parts of Florida into early this week.

A storm system brought up to 2 inches of snow to southern portions of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, including Pensacola, on Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The snowfall occurred almost a year to the day after parts of Florida received record snow in mid-January 2025 — when Pensacola received between 6 to 8 inches of snow.

And while Sunday's snowfall is over in Florida, a blast of arctic cold that has been felt across parts of the state since Friday is not.

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Snowflake

City of Oujda in Morocco wakes up to snowfall for the first time in 25 years on January 7


The Times of India
Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:17 UTC
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On January 7, 2026, the northeastern Moroccan city of Oujda experienced significant snowfall for the first time in approximately 25 years
The morning did not arrive quietly in Oujda. For the first time in nearly 25 years, snowfall was observed in the central area of the city, located in the northeastern region of Morocco, on January 7, 2026. Approximately two centimetres of snow settled across the downtown streets, while the adjacent villages experienced significantly more snowfall.

Considering that it was a semi-arid city located near the Algerian border, the sight seemed unusual. Officials referred to it as an unusual occurrence, while locals referred to it as peculiar. For a few hours, the city paused to evaluate itself once more in a more deliberate manner.

Oujda in Africa, witnesses snowfall after 25 years of dry winters

Oujda is not known for snow. Winter temperatures usually sit between 4°C and 10°C, cold but dry, with clear mornings and muted colour. Snow belongs to other parts of Morocco, far from the city centre and the daily routines of the east. That is why the sight of rooftops, pavements, and parked cars lightly covered came as a surprise.

Residents were seen walking through streets lined with snow, some laughing, some filming, and others simply standing still.
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Snowflake Cold

Best of the Web: Several months' worth of snow falls in Russia's Kamchatka - Snow 'apocalypse' shatters 146-year record


The Tribune (India)
Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:35 UTC
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Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula is experiencing one of its harshest winters in recent years, with record-breaking snowfall that's left towns and roads buried under meters of snow. The national weather department confirmed a 146-year-old record has been smashed. The relentless snowfall has brought the city to a standstill, with layers of white covering the landscape.

The region, known for its active volcanoes and extreme weather, has received several months' worth of snowfall within days, forcing authorities to issue alerts and increase snow-clearing operations. Images and videos from the region show vehicles almost completely submerged, entrances blocked by towering snowdrifts, and residents digging tunnels just to leave their homes. The snowfall has had a major impact on everyday life, with roads closed, flights delayed or cancelled, and public transport services suspended.

Emergency crews are clearing snow from rooftops to prevent structural damage, while residents have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel.

Scientists attribute the unusual conditions to repeated cyclonic systems over the Pacific Ocean, which are pulling in large amounts of moisture that turn into heavy snow when they meet Kamchatka's freezing air and rugged terrain.


Comment: Update January 15

The Moscow Times reports that two people were buried alive under snow in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky after snowpacks fell from the roofs of residential buildings.

Besides record snowfall in Russia's Far East, Moscow last week experienced "the heaviest snowfall in 56 years, with 42 percent of the monthly average precipitation recorded in just 24 hours."

And temperatures have plunged right across the country:



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Snowflake

Heavy snowfall hits Turkey - up to 1.5 meters depth reached in 2 days


en.Haberler.com
Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:08 UTC
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As the rainy and cold weather continues to affect the country, holiday news has come from many of our cities. Education has been suspended in Tunceli, Gümüşhane, Erzincan, Ardahan, Bayburt, Kars, and Ağrı. Holiday decisions have also been made in some districts of Şırnak, Ordu, Giresun, Rize, Erzurum, Yozgat, Kastamonu, Artvin, Van, Bingöl, Sivas, Malatya, Trabzon, Konya, Adıyaman, Elazığ, Samsun, Tokat, and Sinop.

Cold and rainy weather continues to have an impact across Turkey. Due to heavy snowfall, education was recently suspended in many cities.

SUSPENSION OF EDUCATION IN MANY CITIES

It was announced that education would also be suspended in many cities and districts on Wednesday, January 14, due to the ongoing snowfall.


Here are the provinces where a snow holiday decision was made:

Comment: From the same source on January 13:
Due to the continuous snowfall for two days in the Ovacık district of Tunceli, the snow depth in the district center has reached up to 1.5 meters in some places, and many streets and avenues have been closed to traffic. As the doors of houses, vehicles, and businesses were blocked by snow, citizens tried to clear the roads with shovels; municipal teams are also continuing their snow removal efforts.

Due to the continuous snowfall for 2 days in the Ovacık district of Tunceli, the snow depth in the district center reached up to 1.5 meters in some places. Houses, vehicles, and roads were covered in snow.


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Snowflake Cold

Thousands of tourists stranded in northern Finland as deep freeze halts flights


AP
Sun, 11 Jan 2026 15:24 UTC
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Thousands of tourists were stranded in northern Finland on Sunday after flights at Kittilä airport were canceled due to severe cold.

The temperature at the airport dropped to minus 37 degrees Celsius (minus 34.6 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday morning, after several days of similar frigid weather, making de-icing of aircraft and other operations difficult, Finland's national public broadcaster Yle reported.

The deep freeze is expected to continue in Kittilä, which is located in Finnish Lapland in the sparsely populated north, on Monday, when the Finnish Meteorological Institute predicts temperatures of almost minus 40 C (minus 40 F).

Finns are generally used to frosty winter temperatures but this year's cold, which has affected wide regions of northern, central and eastern Europe, is more severe than in other years.
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