https://www.sott.net/topic/14-Extreme-Temperatures Signs of the Times: The World for People who Think. Featuring independent, unbiased, alternative news and commentary on world events. en-us Original content Copyright 2026 by Signs of the Times/Sott.net. For other content, see our Fair Use Policy at www.sott.net. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:29:53 +0000 https://www.sott.net/images/sottlogo_rss.jpg SOTT.net https://www.sott.net https://www.sott.net/article/507758-Snow-in-Southern-Africa-creates-stunning-winter-scenes-at-the-end-of-July-with-up-to-16-inches-of-snowfall Residents in Lesotho and the surrounding parts of the southern Drakensberg, South Africa, ended July with cold, snowy mountains and valleys. After some areas received as much as 40 cm (16 inches) of fresh snow, the region completely transformed into a stunning, snow-covered landscape. While this weather is happily welcomed by winter enthusiasts and those eager to see snow, it can create dangerous conditions on the roads. The South African Weather Service issued several warnings for heavy rain, snow, and extreme cold throughout the Eastern Cape, southern KwaZulu-Natal, and the southern Free State. In addition to snowy and icy conditions at higher elevations, lower elevations farther inland experienced the coldest temperatures so far this winter. Although this type of weather is somewhat rare, it isn't completely unheard of in this region, where the highest peaks reach well over 3,000 meters, so people were quick to head up to the mountains for photographs and videos and to share the... https://www.sott.net/article/507758-Snow-in-Southern-Africa-creates-stunning-winter-scenes-at-the-end-of-July-with-up-to-16-inches-of-snowfall Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:20:35 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507757-Rare-snow-blankets-New-Zealand-cities-and-falls-at-sea-level An Antarctic polar blast swept across parts of New Zealand's South Island on Tuesday, bringing snow to sea level and icy temperatures that forced road closures and disrupted schools. Snow blanketed Dunedin, the South Island's second-largest city, prompting police to urge residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary because of icy roads. "Police have received a number of reports of crashes across Dunedin this morning, with some vehicles sliding off the road. Thankfully, there have been no injuries," New Zealand Police said in a social media post. Skiers and snowboarders took advantage of the snowfall by descending Dunedin's Baldwin Street, billed as the world's steepest residential street, local media reported. Farther north, snow was visible on the sand at Christchurch's New Brighton Beach. https://www.sott.net/article/507757-Rare-snow-blankets-New-Zealand-cities-and-falls-at-sea-level Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:03:18 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507670-Snow-buries-vehicles-traps-over-100-tourists-in-Argentinas-Andes Argentina's National Gendarmerie released footage on Wednesday (July 29) showing vehicles buried in snow near Fiambala, Catamarca, following a rescue operation that began Tuesday evening to reach more than 100 tourists trapped by a snowstorm on the road to the Balcon del Pissis lookout. https://www.sott.net/article/507670-Snow-buries-vehicles-traps-over-100-tourists-in-Argentinas-Andes Fri, 31 Jul 2026 11:53:33 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507667-Snow-storm-warning-in-the-middle-of-summer-Alaskas-mountain-highway-buried-under-6-inches-of-snow-ice-11-degree-wind-chills-and-powerful-winds A snow storm warning in the middle of summer sounds unbelievable, but that's exactly what unfolded in northern Alaska, where a powerful burst of Arctic weather transformed a normally accessible highway into a dangerous stretch of ice, snow and freezing winds. While much of the United States is dealing with summer heat, Alaska's Atigun Pass and parts of the Dalton Highway experienced conditions that looked more like January than late July. Forecasters warned of accumulating snow, icy roads and bitter wind chills, creating hazardous travel conditions in one of the state's most remote regions. Snow storm warning brings rare July snowfall The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Central Brooks Range, covering Atigun Pass, Anaktuvuk Pass, Galbraith Lake and the Dalton Highway between mile posts 232 and 322. Forecasters expected 2 to 6 inches of snow, with the heaviest accumulation at higher elevations. Along with the snowfall came a light glaze of ice and... https://www.sott.net/article/507667-Snow-storm-warning-in-the-middle-of-summer-Alaskas-mountain-highway-buried-under-6-inches-of-snow-ice-11-degree-wind-chills-and-powerful-winds Fri, 31 Jul 2026 10:48:40 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507644-Patagonia-in-Argentina-plunges-to-20C-as-rare-snow-buries-El-Bolson A renewed Antarctic outbreak is driving temperatures toward -20C (-4F) across southern Patagonia. Argentina's weather service has maintained its highest-level "red cold alert" across large areas, including Santa Cruz. Provincial Civil Protection expects lows down to -18C (0F) through Thursday, with isolated readings below -20C. The latest pulse follows several days of severe cold. El Calafate, Río Turbio and Gobernador Gregores all fell to around -17C (1F), while Río Gallegos reached -14.5C (6F), with a wind chill of -20.3C (-5F). A reported minimum of -16C (3F) circulated for Gobernador Gregores on July 27. https://www.sott.net/article/507644-Patagonia-in-Argentina-plunges-to-20C-as-rare-snow-buries-El-Bolson Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:16:43 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507605-Storm-snowfall-total-passes-5-metres-17-FEET-in-9-days-at-Portillo-ski-resort-in-Chile A snow storm that has now continued for nine days has taken Chilean ski resort Portillo to a snowfall total of 5.2 metres (17 feet) so far, with more snow forecast. The storm brought its heaviest accumulations last weekend with up to 1.54m (5 feet) in 24 hours, but has been followed by 30-60cm (1-2 feet) more most days over the past week. The resort has effectively been closed for more than week due to the severity of the storm with roads in and out of Portillo closed and Chile declaring a state of emergency because of the wider impact of the storm which brought gales and torrential rain at lower altitudes. The closure comes after Portillo was forced to delay opening multiple times in June through to the start of July with too little snowfall. Up to the storm's arrival, it was operating limited terrain due to limited cover. It has now had ten times as much snowfall over the past nine days than the previous two months. https://www.sott.net/article/507605-Storm-snowfall-total-passes-5-metres-17-FEET-in-9-days-at-Portillo-ski-resort-in-Chile Sun, 26 Jul 2026 11:56:41 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507586-3-metres-10-feet-of-snowfall-in-3-days-in-the-Andes Ski resorts in Argentina and Chile have been reporting snowfall totals rising at an astronomical rate through the weekend as a major snowstorm hits the Andes. Chile's Portillo ski area, currently closed for safety reasons due to the storm, has reported 309cm - over 10 feet - of snow over the past 72 hours, peaking at over 1.5m (five feet) on Friday-Saturday. Valle Nevado, from where the webcam image top was captured today, reports 1.7m (nearly six feet) of snowfall from the storm. It also published this before and after picture. Many ski areas in the region are currently cut off by closed roads and for now the emphasis on keeping safe until roads and lifts can be dug out and slopes be made as safe as possible. It's a remarkable change of fortune for South American ski areas which had struggled to open much terrain at all during the first month of the 2026 season. Most had had less than 50cm of snowfall over the past few months ...until this weekend. Most areas in the region are now... https://www.sott.net/article/507586-3-metres-10-feet-of-snowfall-in-3-days-in-the-Andes Sat, 25 Jul 2026 11:58:00 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507469-Europe-recorded-10000-excess-deaths-during-late-June-heatwave-data-show European countries reported more than 10,000 excess deaths during the record-breaking heatwave that engulfed the west of the continent in late June, official data showed. The vast majority — more ​than 9,000 — were among people aged 65 and above, according to data published by EuroMOMO, a network backed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization. Extreme heat can kill by causing heat stroke, or aggravating cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, with older people among the most ​vulnerable. "To have this kind of excess at this time of year is unusual. It's ​really high," Lasse Vestergaard, Chief Physician at Denmark's Statens Serum Institut, which hosts ⁠EuroMOMO, told Reuters. "It is difficult to explain this high excess mortality by anything but the extreme ​heat," Vestergaard added. https://www.sott.net/article/507469-Europe-recorded-10000-excess-deaths-during-late-June-heatwave-data-show Fri, 17 Jul 2026 21:26:15 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507159-Summer-snow-blankets-Montana-closing-Beartooth-Pass-and-dumping-16-inches-near-Idaho-border While Billings saw some rain over the past 24 hours, other parts of Montana looked and felt more like January than June, with snow falling in higher elevations and piling up across the state. In Yellowstone National Park, wildlife photographer Julie Argyle woke up to a surprising front yard topped with fresh inches of snow. Click here to see the snowfall: https://www.sott.net/article/507159-Summer-snow-blankets-Montana-closing-Beartooth-Pass-and-dumping-16-inches-near-Idaho-border Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:29:08 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507141-France-records-1000-excess-deaths-in-record-breaking-European-heat-wave France has recorded 1,000 excess deaths during the blistering heat wave sweeping Europe, the ​public health agency said on Sunday, warning that the true figure was likely to be higher. Detailing its preliminary count of excess deaths, Sante Publique said most of the ​fatalities involved older people and that it expected ​the mortality rate to rise as more information ⁠became available about deaths in residential care and homes. Europeans ​have been enduring blistering conditions during a heat wave that has ​been linked to dozens of deaths — shattering records, disrupting power generation and damaging infrastructure. Scientists have said the heat wave, which began on ​June 20, was the worst recorded in Europe, ​where the climate is changing faster than the global average. https://www.sott.net/article/507141-France-records-1000-excess-deaths-in-record-breaking-European-heat-wave Sun, 28 Jun 2026 21:00:06 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507071-Western-Europes-Omega-Heat-Western-US-Summer-Cold-Falling-Seas-Kill-Reefs Western Europe's Omega Heat Western Europe is hot this week because the jet stream has locked into an omega block. Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, by contrast, have held cool. The 500 hPa setup shows a large high-pressure ridge over western and central Europe, boxed in by lower pressure to the east and west. The flow bends into the shape of the Greek omega. Beneath that ridge, air sinks. Cloud thins. The late-June sun hits harder. On the southern flank, clockwise flow pulls Saharan air north into Spain, France and Britain. As that air sinks under the high, it compresses and warms. This is a circulation event. Not a "climate emergency". And western Europe is not the globe. While France and the UK bake, cool anomalies sit across the High Arctic, North America, parts of Asia and Australia, South America, the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. As for the records, the UK Met Office shouldn't be trusted. Early week, the media cycle, fueled by the office, leaned heavily into 39C to 40C.... https://www.sott.net/article/507071-Western-Europes-Omega-Heat-Western-US-Summer-Cold-Falling-Seas-Kill-Reefs Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:26:11 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507035-Drowning-deaths-soar-to-40-in-France-as-Europe-buckles-in-peak-of-heatwave Forty people have drowned in heatwave-related deaths in France since last Thursday, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has said, as temperatures hit record levels in several major cities and the heatwave reaches a peak in several European countries. "It's not something to be taken lightly, going swimming in unsupervised areas during a heatwave," sports and youth minister Marina Ferrari told French radio. France, along with Spain and Italy, have been hardest hit by the heatwave so far. France saw its hottest June day on record on Monday and its hottest ever night on Monday night, with a minimum average of 21.6C according to Météo France, and with well over half the country on red alert. Meanwhile, in Spain temperatures are set to peak above 40C in some areas, with red alerts in Andalusia in the south, and Cantabria and the Basque Country in the north, on the third day of a national heatwave. https://www.sott.net/article/507035-Drowning-deaths-soar-to-40-in-France-as-Europe-buckles-in-peak-of-heatwave Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:34:06 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507033-South-Pole-falls-below-70C-again On June 22, the low at the South Pole Station registered a biting -71.3C (-96.3F). That makes eight days this month with a minimum below -70C (-94F). For several weeks now, a stark, colder-than-average air mass has sat over Antarctica, with temperatures in parts of the continent running more than 20C below the long-term average. Most of the cold has remained locked over the ice sheet. But in recent days, lobes of that cold air have been spilled north into South America. Santa Catarina, Brazil, opened winter with hard frost and subzero readings. Bom Jardim da Serra fell to -7.3C (18.9F), the state's lowest temperature of the year so far. Urubici dropped to -3.8C (25.1F), with Urupema at -5.2C (22.6F). Central Chile is facing lows of -4C (24.8F) this week. In Argentina, the national weather service has issued cold alerts for parts of Neuquén, Mendoza, San Luis, Córdoba, San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca, Tucumán and Jujuy. https://www.sott.net/article/507033-South-Pole-falls-below-70C-again Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:10:10 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506960-Chinas-June-cold-keeps-biting China's high country is still flirting with freezing. On June 19, CMA's live observation ranking listed Gande at 0.5C (32.9F), Haiyan at 0.8C (33.4F), Shuanghu at 0.9C (33.6F), and Zeku at 0.9C (33.6F). Zhongba managed just 1.1C (34F). Henan saw 1.2C (34.2F). Dari reached 1.8C (35.2F). Maqen 1.9C (35.4F). Seda 2.2C (36F). And Jiuzhi 2.4C (36.3F). All are deeply anomalous late-June readings. This has not come out of nowhere. June has already delivered a series of sharp cold shots across China. On June 7, a total of 12 national meteorological stations set or tied their lowest temperature records for June. The on June 8, China set another 16 June cold records, split between seven low-minimum records and nine low-maximum records. Northern China is not enjoying a simmering summer. The theme is repeated cold intrusions and a plateau barely above freezing. https://www.sott.net/article/506960-Chinas-June-cold-keeps-biting Fri, 19 Jun 2026 12:06:07 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506907-Arctic-cold-vs-the-melt-season The High Arctic is entering melt season at the cold edge of the modern record. DMI data for daily 2 m air temperature north of 80N show 2026 running far below the normal June climb. The red line is pressed against the lower boundary of the 1958-2026 spread. Veteran meteorologist Joe Bastardi called the cold "unprecedented." On June 12, the 80N average fell to -4.2C (24.5F). By June 14, it was still below freezing at -2.3C (27.8F). June is when the high Arctic normally pushes toward 0C (32F). Below that line, surface melt remains constrained. The public is fed amplification warnings, while the core Arctic basin is sitting at/near the coldest June level in data back to 1958. And the polar cold is not confined to the Arctic. Both GFS and ECMWF show a broad cold pool across Antarctica, including the South Pole region. https://www.sott.net/article/506907-Arctic-cold-vs-the-melt-season Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:29:16 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506877-Severe-hailstorm-strikes-Ankara-Turkiye-leaving-layer-of-ice-5-cms-thick A sudden downpour and hailstorm in Ankara around midday paralyzed life in the city. Many houses were flooded, and vehicles were swept away by the floodwaters, particularly in Yenimahalle and Kahramankazan districts. https://www.sott.net/article/506877-Severe-hailstorm-strikes-Ankara-Turkiye-leaving-layer-of-ice-5-cms-thick Sun, 14 Jun 2026 12:11:45 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506847-June-Snow-returns-to-the-Alps-Oregons-June-frost June Snow Returns To The Alps High Alpine passes have slipped back toward winter. On June 11, Passo Gardena in Italy's Dolomites was under a fresh white dusting at around 2,000 m (6,560 ft). Local forecasts had the pass down to -2C (28.4F), with temperatures at 3,000 m (9,840 ft) around -4C (24.8F). At Passo dello Stelvio, snow totaling 23 cm (9.1 in) has been reported, with the Stelvio glacier down to -8C (17.6F). Switzerland saw the same pattern. Swiss lowland highs were held to 16C (60.8F), with the central and eastern Alps seeing a few centimeters below 2,000 m. https://www.sott.net/article/506847-June-Snow-returns-to-the-Alps-Oregons-June-frost Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:04:03 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506797-June-snow-falls-in-Scotland-as-UK-hit-by-unsettled-weather Parts of Scotland witnessed distinctly wintry scenes on Tuesday - as the UK experiences a spell of unsettled weather. Residents in the village of Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire endured rapidly changing weather conditions, with sunshine giving way to torrential rain and even snow. Staff at local ice cream shop The Icer took to social media to express their bemusement, writing: https://www.sott.net/article/506797-June-snow-falls-in-Scotland-as-UK-hit-by-unsettled-weather Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:47:40 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506745-Ice-Age-cometh-Mysterious-cold-blob-in-the-Atlantic-suggests-the-AMOC-is-weakening Over the past 150 years, Earth's entire surface has been warming, except for one patch of the north Atlantic. Located south-east of Greenland, this area has cooled by as much as 1°C and is known as the "warming hole" or the "cold blob". Scientists have been split over why this cold blob exists, but the latest evidence backs up the idea that it is caused by a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), the system of currents that transports warmth from the tropics to Europe. The AMOC carries warm, salty water from the Gulf of Mexico towards the north Atlantic, where it cools and sinks, flowing back south along the ocean floor. Scientists are concerned that the surge of freshwater from Greenland's melting ice is making this salty water less dense, so it sinks more slowly, weakening the circulation. Some research suggests the AMOC could cross a tipping point within decades, locking in a future collapse that would freeze Europe and disrupt monsoon rains crucial... https://www.sott.net/article/506745-Ice-Age-cometh-Mysterious-cold-blob-in-the-Atlantic-suggests-the-AMOC-is-weakening Sun, 07 Jun 2026 11:22:21 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506692-Banff-Sunshine-ski-resort-in-Alberta-gets-fresh-dump-of-10-inches-of-summer-snow Banff Sunshine Village got a fresh dump of snow in recent days as it gets set to offer summer skiing later this month. The resort says 25 centimetres fell over the weekend, and another 18 centimetres were expected to touch the ground on Monday and Tuesday. The snowfall comes as they get ready to reopen runs for June skiing, something that has happened only twice in the past three decades. The resort last offered summer skiing four years ago, and before that, not since 1991. Sunshine's VP of marketing, Kendra Scurfield, says the team moved quickly once it became clear the mountain was getting a late‑season boost. https://www.sott.net/article/506692-Banff-Sunshine-ski-resort-in-Alberta-gets-fresh-dump-of-10-inches-of-summer-snow Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:11:40 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506691-Rare-summer-snowfall-in-central-Mongolia On Wednesday, central Mongolia experienced an unusual summer snowfall, as reported by the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring. In the Esönzüil sum, located in the Övörkhangai aimag, snow covered the ground with a layer of 10 to 15 centimeters. Despite Mongolia's reputation for its harsh continental climate and long winters, snowfalls during the summer months remain a rarity. https://www.sott.net/article/506691-Rare-summer-snowfall-in-central-Mongolia Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:49:28 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506678-Russia-starts-June-cold-from-Krasnodar-to-the-Siberian-Belt Russia, broadly, has opened June cold. In the south, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, on the Sea of Azov, set a new daily minimum record on June 2. The temperature fell to 10.3C (50.5F), beating the previous June 2 record of 11.1C (52F), set in 1951. It followed a sharp late-May chill across Krasnodar Krai. On May 31, record lows were reported in Sochi, Tuapse, Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Krasnaya Polyana. Sochi fell to 8.6C (47.5F), beating a mark from 1904. Tuapse dropped to 9.6C (49.3F), undercutting its 1956 record. Krasnaya Polyana fell to 3C (37.4F). Russian reports blamed prolonged rain, heavy cloud and, crucially, an intrusion of Arctic air. Snow fell in the mountains. Heavy rain hit the coast. The cold carried into June and is threatening to break further records along Russia's southern edge. https://www.sott.net/article/506678-Russia-starts-June-cold-from-Krasnodar-to-the-Siberian-Belt Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:05:56 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506646-Late-season-snowfall-in-Genhe-Inner-Mongolia-China A snowfall blanketed parts of Genhe, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Monday, caused by a combination of a cold vortex from Siberia and the city's high latitude and altitude, local meteorological authorities said. Video clips posted by residents in the early morning showed a white layer of snow on rooftops and roads in the city known as "China's Cold Pole". According to the local meteorological bureau, the snowfall occurred in the northern towns of Jinhe, Mangui, and Alongshan in the early hours of Monday, with accumulations of 3 to 5 centimeters in some areas. The snow had stopped around 10 am. With daytime temperatures rising to around 7 to 8 degrees Celsius, most of the snow melted. Local authorities reminded farmers and herders that losses of crops and agricultural products covered by compensation policies should be reported immediately. Residents vulnerable to the cold were advised to wear a light jacket with a down coat. Genhe, a county-level city under Hulunbuir, is one... https://www.sott.net/article/506646-Late-season-snowfall-in-Genhe-Inner-Mongolia-China Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:42:36 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506645-Over-6-inches-of-snow-falls-on-Mount-Washington-New-Hampshire-during-the-last-weekend-in-May While Monday marks the start of June, Mount Washington still looks and feels like winter after receiving more than six inches of snow over the weekend. https://www.sott.net/article/506645-Over-6-inches-of-snow-falls-on-Mount-Washington-New-Hampshire-during-the-last-weekend-in-May Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:24:31 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506630-Late-May-snowfall-in-the-Carpathians-Ukraine-as-temperature-drops-to-1C In the Carpathian Mountains, air temperature has dropped to -1°C, and snowfall is currently observed. According to Ukrinform, mountain rescuer of the State Emergency Service in Ivano-Frankivsk region Vasyl Fitsak reported this on Facebook and shared a video of snow-covered mountains. "In Chornohora, everything is stable: light snow is falling, and the thermometer shows -1°C," the post said. As Ukrinform reported, on Sunday, May 31, Ukraine is expected to see variable cloudiness with light rain. In the northeast, as well as in Zakarpattia and Prykarpattia, moderate short-term rain is forecast during the day, with thunderstorms in places in the east. https://www.sott.net/article/506630-Late-May-snowfall-in-the-Carpathians-Ukraine-as-temperature-drops-to-1C Sun, 31 May 2026 13:48:44 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506628-Mammoth-Mountain-California-records-5-inches-of-new-May-snow A storm moving its way down the west coast of the US is keeping Mammoth Mountain in the running for the last ski area standing. Forecasts earlier this week were calling for colder temperatures and significant precipitation as far north as central Oregon and into the Eastern Sierras. It would appear that these forecasts have come to fruition at Mammoth Mountain, as the ski area picked up 3-5″ of new snow on May 28, 2026. The ski area's mountain report is showing that Mammoth still has a base depth of 97 inches at the Summit, and the recent snow has brought their main lodge season total to 296″. Temperatures are hovering in the low to mid-30s today but are expected to warm up over the weekend. Forecasts earlier in the week were also showing that high elevations in the Sierras could see 6-9″ of snow by Thursday night, so this storm might not be quite done just yet. https://www.sott.net/article/506628-Mammoth-Mountain-California-records-5-inches-of-new-May-snow Sun, 31 May 2026 13:19:34 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506518-Fresh-May-snowfall-in-Kashmir-India Fresh snowfall was reported from Minamarg and the Drass sector near Zoji La on Monday, bringing down temperatures sharply and covering higher reaches under a fresh layer of snow. Reports said heavy snowfall lashed the upper reaches of Minamarg and areas around Drass near the strategic Zoji La axis, turning vast mountain stretches white. The fresh spell of snow was accompanied by a noticeable drop in temperature, reviving cold conditions across the region. Locals and travelers said snow accumulation was visible across higher elevations, while chilly winds and overcast skies added to the wintry conditions. The snowfall comes amid fluctuating weather conditions in Kashmir and adjoining mountain regions, where intermittent rain and storms have been reported over recent days. There were no immediate reports of disruption to traffic movement or damage, though authorities were monitoring weather conditions in the high-altitude sector. Fresh snowfall in the Zoji La and Drass region often... https://www.sott.net/article/506518-Fresh-May-snowfall-in-Kashmir-India Mon, 25 May 2026 14:19:32 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506464-Its-nearly-Memorial-Day-but-Rocky-Mountain-National-Park-Colorado-just-got-buried-in-heavy-snow-up-to-a-foot-deep Summerlike weather has made an appearance across much of the United States recently, but winter is not done with the high country in Colorado. Rocky Mountain National Park was coated in heavy snow to start the week, with more than a foot reported in the higher elevations. "It's May 18 and winter is back in Rocky Mountain National Park," the park posted on Facebook. Plow crews were sent out, and roads that are usually busy this time of year were shut down because of the wintry weather, including part of U.S. 34. It is unclear when the road will reopen. https://www.sott.net/article/506464-Its-nearly-Memorial-Day-but-Rocky-Mountain-National-Park-Colorado-just-got-buried-in-heavy-snow-up-to-a-foot-deep Fri, 22 May 2026 13:59:46 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506462-Very-rare-ice-halo-in-Sicily-Italy-on-May-15 Experts call it a "suncave Parry arc." Usually, you have to go to the Arctic to find one. Last week, however, Marcella Giulia Pace saw the rarity in Sicily. "On May 15th, I was in my garden, surrounded by the quietness of the Sicilian countryside, when, lifting my eyes to the sky, I saw an extraordinary halo display," says Pace. "With my camera in hand, I began running along the country road beside my home, searching for an open field that could reveal the entire composition." The luminous network included a circumzenithal arc, a supralateral arc, a suncave Parry arc, an upper tangent arc, a 22° halo, a parhelic circle and a sundog. "As I ran, the complex display kept transforming before my eyes," says Pace. "The greatest surprise came when I saw a Parry arc forming above the upper tangent arc--the rarest phenomenon of all!" Suncave Parry arcs are exceptionally rare because they require sunlight to pass through column-shaped ice crystals suspended in a very specific, improbable,... https://www.sott.net/article/506462-Very-rare-ice-halo-in-Sicily-Italy-on-May-15 Fri, 22 May 2026 12:16:40 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506461-Siberia-Slips-Back-To-Winter-US-Cold-Pool-Holds-Into-Late-May-Antarctica-Below-100F-The-CO2-Effect-Shrinks-As-CO2-Rises-Sunspot-Weakens Siberia Slips Back To Winter​ Swaths of Siberia have slipped back toward winter. On May 22, frost warnings stretched across a broad belt of Russia, from Omsk and Novosibirsk to Kemerovo, Altai Krai and Orenburg. Overnight lows were expected to fall to -5C (23F), cold enough to threaten early crops, gardens and spring vegetation. In Kemerovo Oblast, the cold has been biting for days. Local stations fell to around -4C (24.8F), with daytime temperatures stuck near 4C (39.2F). Snow fell in Kemerovo. Roads in Kuzbass were covered. Visibility deteriorated. The cold also spread into the mountains and republics farther east. Tuva faced wet snow, thunderstorms, hail and damaging winds. Buryatia was hit by mountain wet snow and a temperature drop of at least 10C. Around Irkutsk and Lake Baikal, snow remained in the higher terrain, with more frosts expected through to May 25, at least. Heating systems have been turned back on in Siberian communities, according to local reports. https://www.sott.net/article/506461-Siberia-Slips-Back-To-Winter-US-Cold-Pool-Holds-Into-Late-May-Antarctica-Below-100F-The-CO2-Effect-Shrinks-As-CO2-Rises-Sunspot-Weakens Fri, 22 May 2026 12:03:30 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506375-Abnormal-weather-in-China-May-blizzards-Extreme-snowfall-hits-Hami-Xinjiang Abnormal weather in China, with blizzards in May! A sudden and severe blizzard hit Hami, Xinjiang, with snowfall accumulating by 35 millimeters overnight! A red blizzard warning was issued for Zheduo Mountain in Sichuan, paralyzing the entire highway to Tibet and leaving countless people stranded! https://www.sott.net/article/506375-Abnormal-weather-in-China-May-blizzards-Extreme-snowfall-hits-Hami-Xinjiang Sun, 17 May 2026 20:44:44 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506373-Unseasonal-snow-and-storms-sweep-Morocco-in-mid-May-weather-shift Morocco has experienced an unusual spell of wintry weather in mid-May, with thunderstorms and snowfall striking several mountainous regions at a time when temperatures typically begin shifting toward summer conditions. Houcine Youabed, communications officer at Morocco's General Directorate of Meteorology, said the unstable weather pattern was caused by a low-pressure system accompanied by a cold upper-air mass positioned over the western Mediterranean and northern Morocco. The atmospheric conditions triggered a noticeable drop in temperatures, particularly in the High and Middle Atlas mountain ranges, leading to snowfall at elevations above 2,000 meters. According to the meteorological agency, the cold air interacting with humid Atlantic currents created active storm clouds that produced localized thunderstorms and snow. https://www.sott.net/article/506373-Unseasonal-snow-and-storms-sweep-Morocco-in-mid-May-weather-shift Sun, 17 May 2026 20:27:55 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506324-Up-to-2-feet-of-May-snowfall-in-72-hours-on-Alpine-glaciers-in-Austria High altitude ski slopes in the Alps have reported up to 59cm of snowfall over the past few days. Snow has also been falling to low elevations as temperatures plummet. Only seven glacier ski areas are still open for snow sports with several of those closing their 25-26 seasons this Sunday. The biggest accumulation has been reported on the Stubai Glacier near Innsbruck (pictured above this morning), one of those closing this weekend. It has reported nearly two feet of snowfall in the past 72 hours taking its upper base to 3.2m, the second deepest in the Alps. Five of the seven still-open ski areas in the Alps are in Austria, with Hintertux, open until July and with the most terrain still open (42km of slopes), posting 30cm. The Kaunertal Glacier, also closing at the end of this weekend, reports 20cm. The Mölltal Glacier got just 5cm and the Kitzsteinhorn is the fifth Austrian option. Les 2 Alpes, the only ski area open in France, reported 15cm (6"). It has Europe's deepest base at... https://www.sott.net/article/506324-Up-to-2-feet-of-May-snowfall-in-72-hours-on-Alpine-glaciers-in-Austria Fri, 15 May 2026 11:36:19 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506302-Aviemore-Cairngorm-Mountain-Resort-in-Scotland-hit-by-snow-blizzards-in-May-15-7-inches-of-snowfall-overnight Spring may have sprung in the lowlands - mostly - but winter is still clinging hard to the Highlands. Visitors to Aviemore Mountain Resort could be forgiven for thinking it was deep in December, rather than the middle of May, after 40cm of snow fell overnight. The thick snowfall comes as cold northerly winds from the Arctic continue to drive weather patterns in Scotland, with the Met Office reporting temperatures below average for this time of year. However, the lack of warmer weather elsewhere has been a boon for the resort, with winter sports lasting beyond their usual cut-off date in April. Located in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, the resort offers a wide range of activities for visitors. https://www.sott.net/article/506302-Aviemore-Cairngorm-Mountain-Resort-in-Scotland-hit-by-snow-blizzards-in-May-15-7-inches-of-snowfall-overnight Thu, 14 May 2026 14:11:42 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506297-Europes-mid-May-cold-trough-digs-deep-ENSO-swamps-the-attribution-machine Keraunos puts the cold pool at 500 hPa at -32C (-26F) over western and central Europe on May 14. For May, that ranks as the fourth-coldest such setup in 30 years of record-keeping. The benchmark remains May 2012, with ERA5 reanalysis coming up with -33C (-27F). A deep upper-level trough is locked over the continent, with blocking over the North Atlantic allowing polar air to drive far south. That cold air aloft is steepening lapse rates, destabilizing the atmosphere, and turning mild spring air at the surface into showers, hail, thunder, mountain snow and frost risk. The cold is already showing up. In Croatia, Puntijarka on Zagreb's Medvednica has recorded May snow for only the sixth time since observations began in 1981. https://www.sott.net/article/506297-Europes-mid-May-cold-trough-digs-deep-ENSO-swamps-the-attribution-machine Thu, 14 May 2026 10:11:20 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506262-Winter-makes-a-comeback-in-May-videos-shows-snow-in-eastern-Switzerland The ice saints live up to their name this week. Rain, dense clouds and strong winds dominate at the start of the week. On Tuesday night, the snow line even dropped to medium altitudes. For example, in Walenstadtberg, a village in the St. Gallen municipality of Walenstadt, snow fell from the sky early on Tuesday morning, as the video of a blue News reader reporter shows. Walenstadtberg lies at an altitude of around 800 meters above sea level. It also snowed in Fischenthal ZH: It will remain cool in the coming days: According to MeteoNews, the night to Wednesday will be partly cloudy to clear in many places. This will allow the air to cool down unhindered, which is why temperatures will drop significantly in the early hours of the morning. https://www.sott.net/article/506262-Winter-makes-a-comeback-in-May-videos-shows-snow-in-eastern-Switzerland Tue, 12 May 2026 18:02:20 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506260-May-snowfall-strikes-the-mountains-of-Croatia-strong-thunderstorms-heavy-rain-and-hail-hits-Zagreb-area Severe storms swept across parts of northern Croatia on Tuesday, causing widespread disruption, damaging infrastructure and bringing unusual May snowfall to higher elevations. Emergency services were called into action across Zagreb and Zagreb County after strong thunderstorms, heavy rain and hail hit the region. According to Croatia's Civil Protection Directorate, the County Emergency Centre 112 received around 250 calls from residents reporting various weather-related incidents. In Zagreb, one person was reported injured during the storm. The severe weather also disrupted public transport in the capital. Due to damage to the overhead power network, several tram lines were forced to operate on altered and shortened routes. https://www.sott.net/article/506260-May-snowfall-strikes-the-mountains-of-Croatia-strong-thunderstorms-heavy-rain-and-hail-hits-Zagreb-area Tue, 12 May 2026 17:46:56 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506251-May-blizzard-buries-the-Russian-city-of-Noyabrsk Unusual snowfall was reported in the southern Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region, Russia, on Sunday, May 10, 2026. Wind gusts reached 23 meters per second. A high alert status was declared in Noyabrsk. Traffic was also restricted on regional highways in the Noyabrsk, Muravlenko, Gubkinsky, and Purovsky districts. Drivers were advised to avoid traveling outside the city. Public transportation was also suspended in densely populated areas. https://www.sott.net/article/506251-May-blizzard-buries-the-Russian-city-of-Noyabrsk Tue, 12 May 2026 09:52:47 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506186-Unprecedented-snow-hits-Northern-Cape-South-Africa Residents in South Africa's Northern Cape province woke up on Thursday, May 7, 2026, to rare snowfall after a strong cold front passed through the region. Cities like Richmond, Noupoort, and Colesberg recorded the heaviest snowfall, with roads and open spaces covered in white snow. Further snowfall is possible from Saturday night into Monday in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Lesotho, with snow at low elevations currently indicated in some areas. Snowfall of more than 20 cm is also indicated at higher elevations in some areas marked in purple on the map, including the Hex River mountains between Ceres and De Doorns. https://www.sott.net/article/506186-Unprecedented-snow-hits-Northern-Cape-South-Africa Fri, 08 May 2026 19:27:01 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506172-Bitterly-cold-airmass-brings-early-snow-freezing-temperatures-to-southeast-Australia Frigid temperatures have set in across southeastern Australia, with showers, small hail, snowfalls and icy winds all part of the mix on what promises to be the coldest day of 2026 to date in many locations. After a cold front ushered in a polar airmass overnight, this was the scene in the village square at Victoria's Mt Buller ski resort, about three hours northeast of Melbourne, just after 9am. How cold is it this Thursday morning? At 9am this Thursday, May 7, many temperature readings in Tasmania and the southeastern mainland were similar to what you'd expect on the coldest days of winter. For example: https://www.sott.net/article/506172-Bitterly-cold-airmass-brings-early-snow-freezing-temperatures-to-southeast-Australia Thu, 07 May 2026 18:32:28 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506162-Late-season-snowstorm-drops-30-inches-of-snow-in-Colorado-snarls-I-70-near-Vail-Pass-as-semis-jackknife A late-season spring snowstorm caused major travel disruptions along Colorado's I-70 mountain corridor Wednesday morning, May 6, leading to a multi-hour closure near Vail Pass as snow totals as deep as 30″ were reported in mountain areas across the state. According to reporting from The Denver Post, eastbound lanes were shut down for more than two hours after two semitrailers jackknifed near milepost 185. The closure, which stretched from East Vail at Exit 180 to the summit of Vail Pass at Exit 190, was officially lifted by 10:30 a.m. after state transportation officials cleared the scene and reopened the roadway. https://www.sott.net/article/506162-Late-season-snowstorm-drops-30-inches-of-snow-in-Colorado-snarls-I-70-near-Vail-Pass-as-semis-jackknife Thu, 07 May 2026 13:41:52 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506142-May-snowstorm-slams-Wyoming-Colorado-with-up-to-a-foot-of-snow-dumped A May snowstorm has already brought 6-12 inches of snow to the Colorado and Wyoming mountains, where up to 3 feet of snow could fall by Wednesday. AccuWeather Meteorologist Tony Laubach reports from Cheyenne, Wyoming. https://www.sott.net/article/506142-May-snowstorm-slams-Wyoming-Colorado-with-up-to-a-foot-of-snow-dumped Wed, 06 May 2026 09:32:04 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506111-Mughal-Road-closed-amid-fresh-snowfall-in-upper-reaches-of-Jammu-and-Kashmir-India Following fresh snowfall in upper reaches, Mughal Road has been temporarily closed for precautionary measures via Peer Ki Gali. DTI Poonch Manzoor Ahmad Kohli said that Mughal road, connecting Shopian with Rajouri-Poonch districts was closed following snowfall at Pir Ki Gali for precautionary measures. He said that Traffic movement has been stopped on Mughal Road due to fresh snowfall in upper reaches of the area and due to slippery conditions, People are advised to avoid travelling on Mughal Road until the road becomes passable," he added. https://www.sott.net/article/506111-Mughal-Road-closed-amid-fresh-snowfall-in-upper-reaches-of-Jammu-and-Kashmir-India Mon, 04 May 2026 19:41:30 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506110-May-snow-falls-in-Southern-Vermont Snow fell in southern Vermont on Sunday morning, May 3, as unseasonal conditions swept through the region. Footage filmed by X user @VermonsterWx shows snow falling along a quiet country road in Readsboro. "Unusual for May, but certainly not unheard of around here," they wrote. The National Weather Service Burlington said scattered snow showers were moving across Vermont, mainly in the northwest, with only brief, isolated flurries expected in southern areas. Credit: @VermonsterWx via Storyful https://www.sott.net/article/506110-May-snow-falls-in-Southern-Vermont Mon, 04 May 2026 19:23:07 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506105-Mount-Wutai-hikers-rescued-after-heavy-spring-snow-and-strong-winds-strands-groups-in-China No casualties have been reported after heavy snow and strong winds left some hikers stranded near the summit of Mount Wutai in Shanxi province over the weekend, Xinhua News reported. According to the Mount Wutai Scenic Area Administration Committee, weather conditions in the high-altitude area had stabilized by Monday, leading to a sharp decrease in emergency rescue calls. The scenic area's law enforcement team has established six checkpoints at key junctions starting Saturday to intercept and turn back hikers. It's also providing ongoing rescue support alongside emergency management, police, fire and other departments. Snowfall and strong winds hit the summit area from midday Saturday to Sunday afternoon, causing temperatures to drop sharply. Rescue teams immediately began emergency search and rescue operations from midday Saturday after receiving reports of stranded hikers. The Chaotai hiking route on Mount Wutai, a popular trail, attracted large numbers of hikers during the May... https://www.sott.net/article/506105-Mount-Wutai-hikers-rescued-after-heavy-spring-snow-and-strong-winds-strands-groups-in-China Mon, 04 May 2026 12:07:57 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506104-Snow-surprise-in-May-as-Troodos-Mountains-turn-white-in-Cyprus The Troodos Mountains, the highest point in Cyprus, drew attention with an unexpected weather event in May. The snowfall, which started in the evening hours, persisted overnight, blanketing the area in white. The rare occurrence, well outside seasonal norms, continued into the morning hours and attracted significant attention from both local residents and social media users. Images shared by weather platform Kitasweather quickly reached a wide audience. https://www.sott.net/article/506104-Snow-surprise-in-May-as-Troodos-Mountains-turn-white-in-Cyprus Mon, 04 May 2026 11:25:53 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506103-First-May-snow-in-15-years-hits-Mount-Hermon-as-storms-sweep-Israel Snow fell on Mount Hermon in May for the first time in 15 years Monday, as unseasonably cold, stormy weather brought rain to northern and central Israel. The snow began falling on the upper Hermon, at an altitude of 2,000 meters. Temperatures on the mountain are expected to reach 0 degrees Celsius on Monday and Tuesday. Rain fell in northern Israel and parts of central Israel, accompanied by thunderstorms. The highest rainfall over the past 24 hours was 8 millimeters in Shavei Tzion near Nahariya and in Tzuriel near Ma'alot. Kiryat Shmona and Haifa recorded 6 millimeters. Strong winds blew across much of the country, and haze was expected in the northern Negev in the afternoon. https://www.sott.net/article/506103-First-May-snow-in-15-years-hits-Mount-Hermon-as-storms-sweep-Israel Mon, 04 May 2026 11:16:29 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506102-Snowfall-in-2-provinces-of-Turkiye-in-May After a significant drop in air temperature in Çorum and Kastamonu, snowfall is affecting high-altitude regions. Snowfall has begun in the high altitudes of Çorum, where the Meteorology Department predicted cold weather. Snowfall, which started in the high-altitude villages of the Oğuzlar district, continues intermittently. In Çorum, where the air temperature has also dropped, snowfall is expected to continue intermittently in high-altitude areas. https://www.sott.net/article/506102-Snowfall-in-2-provinces-of-Turkiye-in-May Mon, 04 May 2026 09:56:59 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506092-Donner-Pass-chaos-I-80-buried-in-May-Snow-in-California Spring Storm Triggers Whiteouts, Closures, and Travel Nightmare A Historic Pass Strikes Again: Donner Pass is no stranger to brutal weather. Named after the ill-fated Donner Party of 1846, whose pioneers were trapped by early snowstorms and faced unimaginable hardship, the pass remains one of the most challenging transportation corridors in America. Today, it serves as a critical lifeline for travelers between the San Francisco Bay Area and Reno/Tahoe, carrying thousands of vehicles daily — including many big rigs hauling goods across the country. This week's storm delivered a harsh reminder of nature's power. Winter Storm Warnings blanketed the region, with forecasters predicting 12 to 24 inches of snow at pass elevations and locally up to 2 - 5 feet at the highest points. Winds gusting up to 80 - 90 mph created dangerous whiteout conditions, reducing visibility to near zero at times and causing multiple spinouts. https://www.sott.net/article/506092-Donner-Pass-chaos-I-80-buried-in-May-Snow-in-California Sun, 03 May 2026 20:02:16 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/506091-Unseasonal-snowfall-blankets-mountains-in-Greece Snowfall more typical of winter than early May was recorded during the early hours of Sunday on Mount Parnitha and Mount Penteli, both located on the northern outskirts of Athens. The snow was sufficient to cover the peaks, briefly disrupting traffic along Parnithos Avenue. Authorities temporarily halted vehicle movement on the avenue from the height of the cable car upwards as a precautionary measure. Despite the interruption, no significant traffic problems were reported elsewhere in the region. The snowfall marked the second consecutive day of wintry conditions on both mountains, as a three-day spell of severe weather reaches its final phase, according to forecasts from the National Meteorological Service. https://www.sott.net/article/506091-Unseasonal-snowfall-blankets-mountains-in-Greece Sun, 03 May 2026 19:09:18 +0000