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. Wed, 04 Nov 2026 08:57:34 +0000 https://www.sott.net/images/sottlogo_rss.jpg SOTT.net https://www.sott.net https://www.sott.net/article/509263-Historical-records-reveal-the-bitter-truth-about-17th-century-Transylvanias-climate For roughly five centuries from about 1300, Europe experienced periods of unusually cold weather and extreme conditions collectively known as the Little Ice Age. Transylvania, a historical region in modern-day Romania, was also affected, but information about just how severe things were had been scattered in old town records, church logs, travelogs and administrative and monastic diaries. In a study published in PLOS Climate, researchers detail how they pored over hundreds of centuries-old pages to see if they could piece together climate details for the 17th century. This period was already known as one of the coldest intervals of the Little Ice Age. The team, led by Ovidiu Răzvan Gaceu at the University of Oradea, Romania, collected 937 written accounts from 68 localities in Transylvania. As they read, they divided the information into several categories. These were explicit mentions of weather; indirect markers including delayed crop ripening and frozen rivers; and impacts such... https://www.sott.net/article/509263-Historical-records-reveal-the-bitter-truth-about-17th-century-Transylvanias-climate Mon, 02 Nov 2026 21:38:26 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/509185-Parts-of-Tibetan-Plateaus-frozen-ground-are-gaining-ice-despite-warming High on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, the ground stays frozen, with only the top few meters melting each summer. Although the region is warming about twice as fast as the global average, a new study finds that more than a third of its permafrost, mainly in the central plateau, has gained ice since 2000. Stronger westerly winds bring more rain and snow, which seeps into the ground in summer and freezes again in winter. The work was led by Li Dongfeng at Peking University's College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, with colleagues from the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany, Nanjing Normal University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, among others. It was published in Science Advances. https://www.sott.net/article/509185-Parts-of-Tibetan-Plateaus-frozen-ground-are-gaining-ice-despite-warming Thu, 29 Oct 2026 21:35:29 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/509178-Heavy-early-snowfall-in-the-highlands-of-central-Greece-7-8-inches-deep Heavy snowfall in the highlands of central Greece Wednesday led authorities to instruct car drivers to use snow chains on several mountain roads. A police statement said that chains would be necessary in many parts of the Evritania and Fthiotida regions, mostly on local roads around the town of Karpenissi and on the national road from Lamia to Karpenissi. Snow ploughs were also enlisted to clear the roads where necessary. Local media reported up to 20 centimeters of snow in the mountains of southwestern Thessaly. https://www.sott.net/article/509178-Heavy-early-snowfall-in-the-highlands-of-central-Greece-7-8-inches-deep Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:53:50 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/509177-Early-snow-blankets-Japan-as-Winter-arrives-ahead-of-November-up-to-7-4-inches-deep Japan's first significant snowfall of the season has brought winter conditions to Hokkaido and northern Honshu, with snow depths exceeding 10 centimeters in several mountain and inland locations on October 28, while a fresh wave of cold air is expected to bring further snowfall over the weekend of October 31 and November 1. As of 11 a.m. on October 29, the Japan Meteorological Agency had confirmed the season's first snow cover on numerous mountains extending from Hokkaido through Tohoku and into the Japanese Alps, marking a significant advance of winter weather across the country. Hokkaido experienced some of the heaviest snowfall on October 28 as a strong winter pressure pattern carried cold air southward from the Asian continent. Snow was recorded in Sapporo, Hakodate, Muroran, Obihiro, Kushiro and Abashiri, with several cities experiencing their first snowfall earlier than the seasonal average. Sapporo's first snow arrived on October 28, matching the average date but five days... https://www.sott.net/article/509177-Early-snow-blankets-Japan-as-Winter-arrives-ahead-of-November-up-to-7-4-inches-deep Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:43:27 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/509111-Sudden-stratospheric-warming-powerful-El-Nino-combination-may-lead-to-extreme-Europe-cold-energy-crisis Extreme cold threatens Europe, energy crisis... When two of the planet's most powerful climate phenomena align in an unprecedented surge, atmospheric scientists pay close attention. Meteorologists like Joe Bastardi are closely monitoring a dramatic interplay high above the Northern Hemisphere - namely an exceptionally strong El Niño in the tropical Pacific coinciding with a massive Sudden Stratospheric Warming event. Their simultaneous occurrence creates an unusual atmospheric setup that could fundamentally reshape Europe's coming winter. Polar wind reversal To understand what this atmospheric doubleheader means for the continent, we need to look miles above the Arctic Circle. Under normal winter conditions, a tight ring of high-speed westerly winds known as the stratospheric polar vortex traps bitter Arctic cold safely within the high latitudes. During a Sudden Stratospheric Warming event, temperatures high in the stratosphere rise dramatically over the course of just a few days,... https://www.sott.net/article/509111-Sudden-stratospheric-warming-powerful-El-Nino-combination-may-lead-to-extreme-Europe-cold-energy-crisis Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:57:39 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/509039-Antarctic-Spring-freeze-Xinjiang-China-early-snow-depth-tops-2-feet Antarctic Spring Freeze Deep cold is persisting across East Antarctica, with Concordia logging consecutive lows below -63C (-81.4F) well into the austral spring. Temperatures at Concordia fell to -63.8C (-82.8F) on Oct 21 and -63.3C (-81.9F) on Oct 22, about 5C colder than average. The readings are notable, though not unprecedented. On Oct 22, 2008, Concordia recorded -67.6C (-89.7F) - the record for the date. What has been exceptional, however, is the severity and extent of the cold through the 2026 Antarctic winter. https://www.sott.net/article/509039-Antarctic-Spring-freeze-Xinjiang-China-early-snow-depth-tops-2-feet Fri, 23 Oct 2026 11:20:52 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508893-Early-snow-blankets-the-West-as-Great-Falls-Montana-piles-up-16-inches An early-season winter storm brought 16 inches of snow to Great Falls, Montana, from Saturday through Monday, giving the city its second-snowiest start to a snow season on record, behind 2019. The storm also delivered 15.7 inches over two days, ranking ninth among the city's two-day snowfall totals, according to the National Weather Service office in Great Falls. Near Helena, footage showed snow blanketing the ground Monday morning, a sharp change from the warmth a week earlier. "It's hard to imagine I was [riding] my bike in 80F last Monday," @SandiMtgal wrote in an X post. In Peerless, Montana, video filmed by Curtis Fladager showed cattle grazing through the fresh snow. https://www.sott.net/article/508893-Early-snow-blankets-the-West-as-Great-Falls-Montana-piles-up-16-inches Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:56:01 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508802-Heavy-autumn-snow-paralyses-roads-in-Russias-Far-East Heavy autumn snowfall has paralysed roads in Russia's Magadan region, leaving trucks struggling through snow and disrupting intercity bus services. Heavy snowfall blanketed Russia's Far Eastern Magadan region, making roads treacherous and bringing traffic to a near standstill. Trucks struggled to climb snow-covered roads, while intercity buses were delayed or suspended. Snowploughs were deployed to clear the roads as authorities urged drivers to avoid long-distance travel. Residents reported waiting at bus stations for services that could not operate because of the conditions. More heavy, wet snow and strong winds were forecast. https://www.sott.net/article/508802-Heavy-autumn-snow-paralyses-roads-in-Russias-Far-East Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:44 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508781-It-wont-stop-snowing-in-Chile-as-resorts-tally-up-to-5-feet-of-late-snow-in-a-week How do the last few days of the ski season usually go for you? If you answered sunburns, slushy turns, and skiing in a T-shirt, you're in good company. Those answers also highlight the somewhat bizarre and exciting end to South America's winter, which started with a bang and hasn't really let up. Rather than toasty temperatures and blue skies, several resorts already on bonus time got slammed with snow in the last few days. Ski Portillo, Chile, one of the biggest winners of the 2026 season, tallied a monstrous five feet (60 inches/152cm) over the past week. Valle Nevado, another Chilean resort, picked up nearly four feet (48 inches/121cm) while its neighbor, La Parva, saw about three feet (36 inches/91cm). https://www.sott.net/article/508781-It-wont-stop-snowing-in-Chile-as-resorts-tally-up-to-5-feet-of-late-snow-in-a-week Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:05:33 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508769-Russia-drops-below-25C-Mid-October-Arctic-blast-for-US-Atolls-arent-disappearing-Britons-warned-to-prepare-for-blackouts-CME-due-Oct-9 Russia Drops Below -25C Winter is tightening its grip on northeastern Russia, with Sakha (Yakutia) cooling hard fast. Batagay-Alyta (Sakkyryr) has plunged to -25.7C (-14.3F), with several other stations also sinking deep below -20C: Sebyan-Kyuyol: -24C (-11.2F) Habardino: -23.6C (-10.5F) Verkhoyansk: -23.5C (-10.3F) Selagoncy: -22.3C (-8.1F) At Verkhoyansk, the -23.5C reading came just shy of the Oct 7 daily record in a station archive extending back to the late 19th century. The freeze is widespread, not just confined to the northeast. https://www.sott.net/article/508769-Russia-drops-below-25C-Mid-October-Arctic-blast-for-US-Atolls-arent-disappearing-Britons-warned-to-prepare-for-blackouts-CME-due-Oct-9 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:41:06 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508767-Babies-will-die-Heat-and-pregnancy-is-this-weeks-new-scare-to-add-money-and-power-for-the-UN Shameless: The UN is using pregnancy and babies to boost their own job opportunities In the news this week is Julia Gillard, former Australia PM, who announced a sob-story, sorry, 'study' about pregnant women suffering due to extreme heat (like this hasn't been happening for the last ten thousand years). But the study turned out to be just a poll of 1,000 health workers who'd seen cases of something untoward that they "believed" was due to extreme heat. It's not like they had new actual data, trend lines, temperatures or anything. The Wellcome Trust funded the poll, and released the paper, all of seven pages, titled Keeping Mothers and Babies Safe from Extreme Heat. But if you're a mother working up a sweat, don't look for answers here — all you'll find is a lecture from the UN about how every town and city should have a "heat-health action plan", "early warning systems" and "public health measures" — all of which sounds like a request for more bureaucrats. The great antidote of... https://www.sott.net/article/508767-Babies-will-die-Heat-and-pregnancy-is-this-weeks-new-scare-to-add-money-and-power-for-the-UN Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:03:35 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508760-First-snow-of-the-season-recorded-on-Mount-Washington-New-Hampshire-as-winds-gust-to-110-MPH In a sign of things to come for the rest of New England, the summit of Mount Washington saw its first measurable snow of the season on Monday. And the picture painted by the Mount Washington Observatory hardly sounds like a winter wonderland. "The snow was accompanied by thick rime ice, subzero wind chills, and a peak wind gust of 110 mph!" the New Hampshire-based observatory said in a social media post. Rime ice is a common phenomenon on New England's highest peak throughout the winter season. It forms when the summit is encased by clouds or fog and temperatures are below freezing. Supercooled water droplets start to accumulate on surfaces, and a strong wind can create interesting formations, like a "frozen tornado" on the summit last year. The Mount Washington Auto Road also shared photos of snow-covered pavement. The road is only open for cars up to 4,200 feet of the 6,228-foot peak. https://www.sott.net/article/508760-First-snow-of-the-season-recorded-on-Mount-Washington-New-Hampshire-as-winds-gust-to-110-MPH Wed, 07 Oct 2026 10:36:20 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508744-Heavy-October-snow-buries-Southern-Urals-Petermann-Glacier-advance-El-Nino-is-a-cooling-mechanism Heavy October Snow Buries Southern Urals Heavy snow has buried Russia's Chelyabinsk Oblast, piling up to 25 cm (10 inches) deep across the Southern Urals. At Taganay National Park, near Zlatoust, snow reached 25 cm (9.8 in) overnight, while the regional Hydrometeorological Center reported temporary snow cover of up to 20 cm across the oblast. The mountain zone was hit hardest. At Zlatoust, precipitation totaled 2.6 cm (1 in) in 24 hours—39% of the city's normal October total—as rain turned increasingly to snow. Restrictions along roughly 155 miles of the M-5 Ural highway are in place, and rail traffic was also hit with passenger trains delayed near Zlatoust as heavy snow affected routes. https://www.sott.net/article/508744-Heavy-October-snow-buries-Southern-Urals-Petermann-Glacier-advance-El-Nino-is-a-cooling-mechanism Tue, 06 Oct 2026 19:12:25 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508697-Winning-New-York-Times-tosses-out-climate-change-and-tries-to-rebrand-it-energy-security Call it energy independence, resilience, security... anything but Net Zero and Climate Change Climate is such a dirty word now, that even the Headquarters of Globalist lefty communication (The New York Times) is telling their team to abandon it. The Untermenschen have figured out that the climate battle is a really just a class war and they are the victims. They've also realized renewables are not cheap and the oceans are not boiling. Every time the politicians mention the C word, the crowd jeers. So in true lying-style the people who've been working to save the planet will just drop the term they've spent 30 years eulogizing, in favour of some other amorphous phrase. Just call it "energy security" they say as if random power, backed by explody batteries, and armed with Chinese chips was ever secure. It's how they work. They never change the policy, they just change the language. And if they repeat "energy security" mindlessly enough times it makes it harder for those worried about... https://www.sott.net/article/508697-Winning-New-York-Times-tosses-out-climate-change-and-tries-to-rebrand-it-energy-security Sat, 03 Oct 2026 17:24:27 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508666-Winter-hits-Inner-Mongolia-High-Arctic-plunges-refreeze-surges Winter Hits Inner Mongolia Winter has arrived abruptly across northern China, with Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, hit by its first widespread snowfall. Snow began across Hulunbuir's northern and western forest districts on Sept 29-30, blanketing Genhe and falling through Hailar. Temperatures have crashed with it. Across northern Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia, northern Shaanxi, North China and eastern Northeast China, temperatures fell 6 - 10C (11 - 18F) on Sept 30, with local plunges of 12 - 16C (22 - 29F). The freezing line is pushing south into northern Hebei. Reinforcing the chill will be a second air mass on Oct 3-4, which is forecast to knock another 8 - 10C (14 - 18F) off temperatures across swaths of northern China. https://www.sott.net/article/508666-Winter-hits-Inner-Mongolia-High-Arctic-plunges-refreeze-surges Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:45:42 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508622-Mammoth-Spring-freezes-September-snow-buries-the-Himalayas-Antarctic-winter-wont-let-go-Net-zeros-China-problem-Sunspots-crash-again Mammoth Spring Freezes A freeze has reached northern Arkansas, with Mammoth Spring falling to 32F (0C) on Sept 25 and breaking a daily record. The previous Sept 25 benchmark was 34F (1.1C), set in 1995 in books extending back to 1904. Even more impressively, in that 122-year history this year's Sept 25 freeze is the earliest on record—beating the previous earliest by four days. The 32F reading also ties the third-lowest temperature ever observed there in September. Mammoth Spring's typical first-frost window falls in late October, putting this year's freeze roughly a month ahead of schedule. September Snow Buries The Himalayas An exceptional September snowstorm has buried the high Himalayas along the India-Tibet frontier, dumping deep snow across northern Uttarakhand before hammering western Tibet with blizzard conditions. In Uttarakhand, two days of persistent snowfall whitened the remote Lapthal region near the Tibetan border, with unusually heavy accumulation reported across the... https://www.sott.net/article/508622-Mammoth-Spring-freezes-September-snow-buries-the-Himalayas-Antarctic-winter-wont-let-go-Net-zeros-China-problem-Sunspots-crash-again Mon, 28 Sep 2026 18:58:07 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508602-Climates-past-performance-uncertain-predictor-of-future The predictions of climate doomsayers reveal an embarrassing ignorance of a capricious geological history shaped by natural forces too powerful for human control and too complex to allow for meaningful forecasts. What can be said is that we are living in the warmth of an interglacial period known as the Holocene Epoch, which began about 11,700 years ago. It followed a frigid span of nearly 90,000 years, when thousands of feet of glacial ice covered Canada and northernmost parts of the region that would become the U.S. Temperatures were lower than the current average by 11 to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The relatively benign Holocene of nearly 12 millennia has been punctuated by intermittent temperature changes, including 10 warming periods, counting our current one. The most recent era of cold was the Little Ice Age from about 1250 to 1850. Climate alarmists treat the "preindustrial" era before 1850 as their starting point for measuring modern temperature, without noting that the period... https://www.sott.net/article/508602-Climates-past-performance-uncertain-predictor-of-future Sat, 26 Sep 2026 21:42:43 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508548-Romanian-Carpathians-blanketed-in-heavy-early-snow The first snowfall of the season has been filmed on one of Europe's most famous roads—the Romanian Transfăgărășan highway (DN7C). A snowstorm has blanketed the roads and mountains. The video was posted by user poianabrasoveu. A blizzard has blanketed the roads and mountains. Specialized equipment is operating on the highways. (Translated by Google) https://www.sott.net/article/508548-Romanian-Carpathians-blanketed-in-heavy-early-snow Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:28:47 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508547-Early-snowfall-and-a-cold-snap-hits-Mount-Pip-Ivan-Ukraine In the highlands of the Carpathians, despite it being fall, winter weather conditions have already set in. Rescue workers in the Carpathian region are urging tourists planning trips to the mountains to check the weather forecast and prepare responsibly for their hikes. "Despite it being fall, winter conditions have already set in at high altitudes. Rescue workers are urging tourists planning trips to the mountains to take weather conditions into account and prepare thoroughly for their hikes," according to a statement from the State Emergency Service in the region. According to rescue workers, as of 8:00 a.m., it was cloudy on Mount Pip Ivan Chornohirskyi. The wind was blowing from the west at a speed of 3 m/s, and the air temperature had dropped to -3 °C. The State Emergency Service emphasizes that under such weather conditions, tourists must assess their own abilities and experience in advance. https://www.sott.net/article/508547-Early-snowfall-and-a-cold-snap-hits-Mount-Pip-Ivan-Ukraine Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:18:07 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508381-A-foot-of-early-snow-falls-on-Crystal-Mountain-Washington Crystal Mountain, Washington, received its first measurable snow of the season yesterday, following a light dusting in August, with about 6 to 12 inches in the upper elevations. The ski resort posted a video on its social media of the snow falling and reported that the snow started falling Saturday night and was still falling Sunday morning. Approximately 7 inches of snow fell at the time of the social media post. It was the first snow of the season at the mountain that stuck to the ground. Even though Crystal Mountain's last weekend of its summer operations is next week, it seems that winter can't wait to get started in the Pacific Northwest this season. "We are still open for summer operations, so come prepared for a true mountain weather day," Crystal Mountain's website said. "Expect snow and winter-like conditions on the upper mountain, cooler temperatures, and potentially slick surfaces." Meteorologist Chris Nunley posted a video and photos of Crystal Mountain, saying, "Heavy... https://www.sott.net/article/508381-A-foot-of-early-snow-falls-on-Crystal-Mountain-Washington Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:00:41 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508338-Arctic-sea-ice-decline-stalled-nearly-20-years-ago The decline in Arctic sea ice ended almost two decades ago—with NSIDC itself finding no statistically significant trend in September minima since 2007. Arctic sea ice fell through the 1990s and early 2000s. But from 2007 through 2025, the annual summer minimum has shown no statistically significant decline, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. In 2025, the minimum was 4.60 million km² (1.78 million mi²)—essentially level with 2008 and 2010. And 2026 appears set to extend the plateau. The melt season is now approaching its annual minimum (mid-Sept); NSIDC reported that "relatively cool" conditions over the high Arctic slowed the decline during August (by "relatively cool" they mean all-time record-breaking cold — more here). The decline stopped around 2007. Nearly 20 years later, the relentless march toward an ice-free Arctic remains on pause. https://www.sott.net/article/508338-Arctic-sea-ice-decline-stalled-nearly-20-years-ago Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:52:11 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508296-South-America-suffers-record-cold A fierce polar outbreak has driven temperatures deep below freezing across much of southern South America, breaking cold records, returning snow to southern Brazil and pushing wintry air beyond 20°S. In Argentina, Tandil plunged to -7.8C (18F), setting a new daily cold record, smashing the previous -4C (24.8F) mark from 1973. General Pico fell to -4.9C (23.2F) on Sept 6, breaking the previous daily record of -4C (24.8F) from 1975. Buenos Aires dropped to 2.4C (36.3F) the same day, also setting a new daily record. On Sept 7, Concordia reached -1.6C (29.1F), breaking the old -0.4C (31.3F) record from 2008, while Monte Caseros fell to 1.9C (35.4F), beating 2.3C (36.1F), also from 2008. And across northern Buenos Aires Province, temperatures fell as low as -6.1C (21F). https://www.sott.net/article/508296-South-America-suffers-record-cold Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:50:28 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508276-Antarctica-still-below-100F-High-Arctics-coldest-summer-on-record In nearly seven decades of DMI data, no High Arctic summer has been colder. Antarctica Still Below -100F Antarctica's exceptionally cold 2026 is carrying into September, with temperatures again plunging below -100F. On Sept 5, Concordia Station at Dome C registered an unusually low -76.6C (-105.9F), roughly 12.5C (22.5F) below the typical September daily minimum, according to Italy's Antarctic Meteo-Climatological Observatory. The reading continues a notably cold austral winter. June was Antarctica's coolest since 2021, according to NOAA. Concordia fell to -80.3C (-112.5F) on June 5, while the South Pole averaged -60.6C (-77.1F) for the month. https://www.sott.net/article/508276-Antarctica-still-below-100F-High-Arctics-coldest-summer-on-record Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:07:29 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508182-Over-100-families-evacuated-in-Tunisia-as-wildfires-spread Tunisian authorities have evacuated more than 100 families in the central Kairouan province and in Siliana in the country's northwest due to wildfires, officials said late Monday. Member of parliament Nabil Al-Hamdi said 100 families were evacuated from Mount Qaytoun in Kairouan's El Oueslatia district after a fire that first started on Mount Bargou in Siliana. Speaking to the state news agency TAP, Al-Hamdi said strong winds helped the fire spread and pushed the flames close to residential areas, prompting authorities to evacuate families and house them inside a school. In Siliana, Regional Commissioner for Agricultural Development Jamal Al-Farchichi said strong winds caused the Mount Boulemane fire to expand and reach the Ain Bousadia area in Bargou district on the border with Kairouan. https://www.sott.net/article/508182-Over-100-families-evacuated-in-Tunisia-as-wildfires-spread Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:55:13 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508120-Rare-snow-blankets-the-Atacama-Desert-Chile The Atacama Desert doesn't exactly have a reputation for snow, which is what makes what happened in this case so unusual. In August 2026, a pair of winter storms brought snow across parts of the northern Chile desert, with the unusual weather reaching much farther than these events normally do, according to NASA. The region has seen snow before, including in 2025 and 2011. This time, though, the snow spread from the Andes toward the Pacific coast, covering a surprisingly large stretch of the desert. The change was visible from space. NASA's Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites photographed the Chajnantor plateau on Aug. 6 and Aug. 14, capturing the landscape before and after the storm moved through. The area is part of the Altiplano-Puna volcanic complex and is home to the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, or ALMA, one of the planet's most powerful radio telescopes. The conditions were severe enough that ALMA even suspended operations and moved its antennas into a... https://www.sott.net/article/508120-Rare-snow-blankets-the-Atacama-Desert-Chile Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:06:17 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508107-Late-winter-storm-brings-heavy-snowfall-shuts-South-Island-New-Zealand-highways-avalanche-risk-climbs A winter storm continues to batter the South Island today, closing state highways, triggering rockfalls and raising avalanche risk, though MetService says the worst of the snow has now passed. A "complex" low and frontal system is slowly moving over the South Island and is expected to bring a "prolonged period of heavy rain" that should turn into heavy snow for Inland parts of Canterbury and Otago. More than 300mm of rain has fallen around Franz Josef since the storm began, with rivers along the West Coast running high and snow building across mountain passes and elevated communities. NZTA said State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound remained closed because of avalanche risk. State Highway 73 was closed for several hours but has since reopened. Road snowfall warnings also cover Lewis Pass (SH7), Porters Pass (SH73), Lindis Pass (SH8), Crown Range Road and Milford Road (SH94). Warnings are also in place for State Highway 8 from Fairlie to Tekapo (including Burkes Pass),... https://www.sott.net/article/508107-Late-winter-storm-brings-heavy-snowfall-shuts-South-Island-New-Zealand-highways-avalanche-risk-climbs Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:03:53 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/508063-Andes-pass-shuts-again-after-record-snow-closure-Antarctic-winter-still-refuses-to-break The main crossing between Chile and Argentina is closing again today as fresh snow bears down on the Andes—less than a week after it emerged from its longest shutdown in history. The Los Libertadores/Cristo Redentor crossing spent 34 consecutive days closed, from July 14 to August 18, as repeated snowstorms, strong winds and ice buried the high mountain route. The previous record closure was 26 days, set in 2023. At the height of the shutdown, crews on the Chilean side were clearing snow walls and blocks of more than 6 m (20 ft) high, while thousands of trucks accumulated on either side of the border. The crossing finally reopened to freight on Aug 18. Cars and buses were allowed through from Aug 22. https://www.sott.net/article/508063-Andes-pass-shuts-again-after-record-snow-closure-Antarctic-winter-still-refuses-to-break Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:56:23 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507996-Severe-snowstorms-paralyse-Bolivia-threaten-livestock-and-livelihoods Heavy snowfall has disrupted life across Bolivia, with the country's second-largest city, El Alto, among the worst affected. Informal traders and small businesses are struggling as snow keeps customers away, while authorities have suspended travel on major highways and mountain passes. El Alto sits more than 4,000 metres above sea level on the Altiplano plateau, making it particularly vulnerable to severe winter conditions. In the southern city of Potosi, deep snow has buried grazing fields and left livestock without food. Authorities say more than 165,000 llamas and sheep face starvation and have declared an emergency. Communities are rescuing animals as Bolivia braces for more heavy snowfall in the coming days. https://www.sott.net/article/507996-Severe-snowstorms-paralyse-Bolivia-threaten-livestock-and-livelihoods Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:04:40 +0000 https://www.sott.net/article/507861-Late-snow-blankets-parts-of-southern-Africa-as-winter-nears-its-end Parts of South Africa and Lesotho are seeing late-season snowfall as winter in the Southern Hemisphere draws to a close. It's a striking contrast to the extreme heat and wildfires affecting parts of the Northern Hemisphere. https://www.sott.net/article/507861-Late-snow-blankets-parts-of-southern-Africa-as-winter-nears-its-end Tue, 11 Aug 2026 20:01:19 +0000 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