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Severe Cold Wave Hits Asia and Russian Far East – Snow Exceeds Two Meters

Published January 20, 2026, 15:13
Severe Cold Wave Hits Asia and Russian Far East – Snow Exceeds Two Meters

The Russian Far East is experiencing its worst snowfall in 60 years as a severe cold wave from the Arctic grips much of Asia. Extreme weather conditions have caused significant transportation problems, with roads closed in China, passengers stranded at airports in Japan, and entire regions in the Russian Far East paralyzed. Scientists attribute the phenomenon to simultaneous intrusions of cold air masses from the Arctic, affecting both eastern Russia and Asia, as well as eastern Europe. The jet stream's undulation, a result of a weaker Arctic polar vortex, allows cold waves to descend towards lower latitudes. In the Kamchatka Peninsula, snowfall has reached over 2 meters, while rare snowfall was recorded in Shanghai, and flight cancellations and passenger disruptions occurred in Japan.