China Broke 117 Low Temperature Records On Thursday; Surprise La Niña; Cold Outbreaks Still Being Blamed On Global Warming; + X6.3 Flare (But No CME?)

China also busted 17 monthly snow depth records on Thursday.

China Broke 117 Low Temperature Records On Thursday

China has broken cold, heat and precipitation (rain & snow) records over the past two days.

While anomalous warmth has prevailed in the far south, the majority of the 9.597 million km² country is holding colder than average with the record books reflecting that.

Quick on the heels of the historic -52.3C (-62.1F) posted in Turhong (China's lowest February temperature ever recorded), an additional 117 weather stations endured their coldest February days on Thursday (Feb 22).

As with the Arctic Outbreaks in late-Jan and early-Feb, this latest round of polar cold is proving just as disruptive.

In addition to the low temperature records, Thursday also felled 17 monthly snow depth records.

The snow has been settling unusually-far south, in such provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Fujian, while heavier falls have pounded the north, including across Xinjiang:

Remarkably, there's A LOT more where all that came from.

As per local forecasts, Shanghai could see freezing rain for the first time in its history, with many other parts expecting a continuation of the snow, an intensification even:

GFS Total Snowfall (cm) Feb 23 - March 9 [tropicaltidbits.com]

Vast areas of Russia will also be hit, as will Central Asia and the Middle East.

Note the additional accumulations for Mongolia and all, during what is already the country's snowiest winter since 1975.

Mongolia's Largest Snowfall Since 1975; "Gulmarg Looks Like Antarctica!"; Europe Forecast Heavy Snow; SSW Event; Vostok Plunges To -60.7C (-77.3F); + X-Flare

Surprise La Niña

NOAA has said the current El Niño is weakening and that La Niña conditions will return this year.

A transition from El Niño to Neutral is likely by April to June 2024, and the odds increase for La Niña to develop June through August, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center has said in a recent forecast statement.

The global warming hypothesis favors El Niños. The fact that recent years have been dominated by La Niñas (barring 2023) has come as shock. A rare triple-dip La Niña occurred through 2020-2022, with 2024 now forecast to deliver the fourth in five years.