Extreme Temperatures
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Snowflake

Best of the Web: Deepest snow in Japan passes 7 meters (23 feet)

Patrick Thorne
snow-forecast.com
Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:32 UTC
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The deepest snow stat being reported from Japan has now passed 7 metres (23 feet), the deepest reported by a ski area anywhere in the world for several years.

Tengendai Kogen Ski Area near Yonezawa City in Yamagata prefecture is posting the world's deepest snow at 7.2m (nearly 24 feet). At least seven more ski areas in Aomori, Gunma, Nagano and Niigata are reporting 6m/20 feet+ bases.

Japan's seriously snowy winter 24-25, with heavy snowfall continuing this week, is thought to be in part thanks to this winter's El Niño - Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate system in the Pacific.

Things started well with Niseko having the best December in 68 years. Hakuba, one of the regions posting a 6m+ base at its Happo One ski area, has had absolutely phenomenal snowfall all winter.

Pictures from Ben Thorpe of Japan Ski Experience in Niseko.


Comment: Other heavy snowfall reports for the country in February:

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Snowflake

Snow covers desert areas in Iraq

Amr Salem
Iraqinews.com
Mon, 24 Feb 2025 13:16 UTC
Snow covering large areas in Iraq
Snow covering large areas in Iraq
Iraq has been experiencing a harsh winter in recent days, with the Meteorological Organization and Seismology in the country predicting that temperatures will remain below zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) with rain and snow falling across large areas.

While snowfall in the mountainous areas of northern Iraq, such as Sulaymaniyah, seems common every year, it is rare in Anbar province in western Iraq and Kirkuk province in the country's north.

The northern outskirts and southwestern parts of Kirkuk were heavily snow-covered.

Snow also fell in Anbar province's desert areas, and footage posted on social media captured the gorgeous landscapes in various parts of the country.

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Snowflake

Snow disaster in Georgia: buses stopped in Batumi, schools and airport closed


unn.ua/en
Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:03 UTC
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Western Georgia is suffering from heavy snowfall, with snow depths exceeding 50 cm in Batumi and about a meter in mountainous Adjara. Schools have been canceled, transportation and utilities have been disrupted.

Western Georgia continues to be covered with snow in late February. In Batumi, the snow cover has exceeded 50 cm, in mountainous Adjara it is already about a meter, UNN reports with reference to Novosti Georgia.

According to media reports, the roads that had been cleared the day before were covered with snow again in the morning.

Schools and kindergartens have been suspended in all six municipalities of Adjara: Batumi, Kobuleti, Khelvachauri, Keda, Shuahevi and Khulo, Batumelebi reports.

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Arrow Down

Heavy snowfall leading to roof collapses in parts of New York state

Lacey Leonardi
spectrumlocalnews.com
Mon, 24 Feb 2025 10:47 UTC
Heavy accumulation has caused significant damage, including the collapse of the International Wire manufacturing building in Williamstown.
Heavy accumulation has caused significant damage, including the collapse of the International Wire manufacturing building in Williamstown.
Parts of New York are still digging out from the massive snow event that dropped feet of snow in some areas. The heavy accumulation has caused significant damage, including the collapse of the International Wire manufacturing building in Williamstown.

The sheer weight of the snow was just too much for the building, causing the structure to collapse. It is just one of 26 confirmed collapses in Oswego County, according to the county office of emergency management.

Officials fear the number of building collapses could rise as snow sits and crews continue their assessments.

The Oswego County-wide state of emergency declared by the legislature remains in effect, along with a travel advisory issued by Sheriff Don Hilton. This doesn't mean travel is completely restricted.

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Cloud Precipitation

21 dead as severe rain, flooding and lows of -42C hit multiple states (UPDATE)


Sky News
Mon, 17 Feb 2025 21:55 UTC
flooding tennessee
© Associated PressWater rising along the Cumberland River in Clarksville, Tennessee.
A mother and seven-year-old child are among those who have been killed in Kentucky, where high flood waters have swept away cars.

At least 10 people, including a mother and seven-year-old child, have been killed amid harsh weather in the US. Storms and severe flooding have hit areas of Kentucky, leaving nine dead and hundreds of others in need of rescue.

Elsewhere, a person in Atlanta was killed when an "extremely large tree" fell on a home on Sunday, Atlanta Fire Rescue said.

Officials have warned the death toll is likely to rise as search and rescue efforts continue.

Kentucky governor Andy Beshear said: "This is one of the most serious weather events we've dealt with in at least a decade."


Comment: Update February 23

wkyt.com reports:
The death toll from last weekend's flooding has risen yet again.

Saturday night, Governor Andy Beshear took to social media to share that the number of people killed due to the flooding has now reached 21.

Beshear says the most recent death was a man in Logan County.

"These are our fellow Kentuckians, each one a child of God gone too soon. Please join Britainy and me as we pray for their families," Beshear wrote.


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Arrow Down

Snowboarder killed in Colorado avalanche in 4th slide death in West this week


cpr.org
Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:03 UTC
An avalanche in the Middle Fork of Middle Creek drainage where a backcountry tourer was killed on February 20, 2025
© Silverton Medical Rescue via the Colorado Avalanche Information CenterAn avalanche in the Middle Fork of Middle Creek drainage where a backcountry tourer was killed on February 20, 2025
A snowboarder was killed in an avalanche in the mountains of southwestern Colorado on Thursday, the fourth person to die in an avalanche in the U.S. West this week after a string of winter storms.

Sarah Steinwand, 41, of Crested Butte, Colorado, was caught in the debris of the avalanche in the backcountry near Silverton, but a man who was skiing with the snowboarder escaped the snow slide, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center said. Staff from a nearby backcountry hut noticed the avalanche, alerted rescuers and helped the skier dig Steinwand out of the debris, it said.

Three people died in avalanches Monday — one person near Lake Tahoe in California and two backcountry skiers in Oregon's Cascade Mountains.

The avalanche danger was elevated for most of Colorado's mountains earlier this week but conditions have improved somewhat in some areas.


AP
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Snowflake

Best of the Web: Japanese ski resort receives staggering 3 meters of snow in 3 days


SkiAsia.com
Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:44 UTC
A buried chairlift at Kagura Ski Resort on February 19, 2025.
A buried chairlift at Kagura Ski Resort on February 19, 2025.
Ski resorts in Yuzawa Town in Japan's Niigata prefecture have endured one of the most chaotic weeks in recent memory, with strong winds and heavy snowfalls burying chairlifts and forcing lift closures.

Kagura Ski Resort bore the brunt of the storms, reporting three metres of snow in just three days, forcing a total suspension of lift operations on Wednesday and Thursday and partial closures at other times.

GALA Yuzawa ski resort was closed for the day on Friday - the first time is has ever completely closed due to heavy snowfall, according to a post on Snow Japan.

A Facebook post from Kagura on February 20, which has now had more than 4,000 engagements, apologised for the interruption and pleaded with followers for their understanding.


Comment: Other heavy snowfall reports for the country in February:

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Ice Cube

Frozen waterfall wows Florina, Greece amidst Storm Coral's frigid grip


Greek City Times
Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:59 UTC
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A breathtaking spectacle of nature has captivated residents of Florina as a local waterfall froze solid amidst the icy grip of Storm Coral.

The plunging cascade in the Polypotamos area transformed into a shimmering ice sculpture, creating a scene straight out of a winter fairytale.

Overnight temperatures in Florina plummeted to a bone-chilling -12°C, part of a widespread cold snap brought on by the storm. According to Meteo, Neos Kafkasos in Florina registered the lowest temperature at -11.6°C. Other areas experiencing extreme lows include Seli, Imathia (-11.3°C), and Ochiro, Nevrokopi (-10.7°C).

The frozen waterfall has become a popular attraction for locals, who have braved the frigid conditions to witness the stunning natural phenomenon.

Storm Coral continues to impact Greece, bringing not only freezing temperatures but also (mention other impacts of the storm, e.g., snow, disruptions to transport). Authorities are urging residents to (mention any safety advice or precautions being issued).


Comment: Meanwhile elsewhere in this region of southeast Europe: Snowstorm hits Turkey: Flights delayed, ski resorts see record snow

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Snowflake Cold

Snowstorm hits Turkey: Flights delayed, ski resorts see record snow

Vedat Özgür Töre
ftnnews.com
Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:11 UTC
A powerful wave of heavy snowfall
A powerful wave of heavy snowfall and blizzards has swept across Türkiye, closing off transportation access to 2,985 settlements nationwide.
A powerful winter storm sweeping Turkey is bringing flight delays, road closures, and record-breaking snowfall in ski resorts, causing major disruptions for travelers.

The impact of the heavy snowstorm is being felt across multiple regions, from Istanbul's airports to popular winter tourism destinations like Uludağ, Palandöken, and Kartalkaya.

Flights Delayed as Istanbul Struggles with Heavy Snow

The snowstorm severely affected Istanbul's airports, with planes forced to circle above Sabiha Gökçen Airport due to poor runway conditions. The heavy snowfall reduced visibility, causing significant delays and forcing some flights to divert to alternative airports.

As the snowfall intensified on the evening of February 20, Sabiha Gökçen Airport had to temporarily suspend operations to allow runway and taxiway clearing. Snow removal vehicles worked extensively to remove ice and snow, ensuring the runway was safe for landings and takeoffs. During this period, several aircraft were left circling in holding patterns over Istanbul, awaiting clearance to land.

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Snowflake Cold

Montreal breaks snowfall record with 75 cm (29.5 inches) of snow in 4 days, residents asked to stay home


cbc.ca
Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:19 UTC
The City of Montreal advised residents to work from home on Monday, if possible, and leave their houses only for essential travel and use public transportation.
© Steve Rukavina/CBCThe City of Montreal advised residents to work from home on Monday, if possible, and leave their houses only for essential travel and use public transportation.
Montreal is digging out from unprecedented back-to-back storms, with more snow having fallen between last Thursday and Sunday than any four-day period on record.

A total of 75 centimetres of snow fell on the city when taking into account the two storms, according to Gina Ressler, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. It's the most since at least 1941, when record-keeping began.

While the city did not break any single-day snowfall records, it's unusual to have major snowstorms a few days apart, she said. It's even rarer to have a blizzard across southern Quebec.

"Usually blizzards happen further up north in the Arctic," Ressler said. "To have that come a couple of days after a major winter storm is very exceptional."

Sunday's storm dropped about 40 centimetres on Montreal and Laval, 53 centimetres of snow on Mirabel and up to 35 centimetres in the Eastern Townships as of 11 a.m. Monday.

"Luckily we don't have any major winter storms on tap for the rest of the week so hopefully we do get into a bit of a break so we can dig ourselves out," Ressler added.

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