Frozen Turkey; Rare May Snow Hits South Korea; Cold Front To Drop Snow On Aussie Alps; Florida's Heat Was NOT Made "5x More Likely Due To Climate Change"; + The Solar Storm Was Indeed 'Great'

The Korea Meteorological Administration has issued its latest-ever snowfall advisory.

Frozen Turkey

Various regions of Turkey have been returned to winter this week, as anomalous lows and heavy snow sweep the nation.

In northern Turkey, the Demirkapı Plateau, renowned for its lush flora at this time of year, was transformed into a sea of white.

Heavy snow has also hit the Yedigöller (seven lakes) region, encompassing Dipsiz Lake, İkiz Lake, Kara Lake, Sarıçiçek Lake, Pirömer Lake, Aygır Lake and Balıklı Lake. Roads became impassable here, prompting large-scale snow-clearing operations.

““Heavy snow storm in Ardahan of Turkey” — RUSMIZAREZARR on X

Substantial accumulations extended to eastern and central regions and all, to Erzurum, Ardahan, Amasya, Kars, Muş, Karabük, Çankırı, Kastamonu, Bolu, Düzce, Sakarya and Van.

On the eastern mountain of Ağrı, nine Russian climbers were forced to abandon their accent due to biting cold and blizzard conditions.

Renewed excitement has hit Turkey's ski areas. In Erzurum, for example, home to Palandöken resort, the surprise return of winter has re-awoken the slopes, as it has across the Kars’ Sarıkamış district, as well as Bolu’s Kartalkaya.

This part of the world can expect another cold day Friday, before a gradual return to climatic norms as the cold shifts east.

GFS 2m Temperature Anomalies for May 17 [tropicaltidbits.com]

Rare May Snow Hits South Korea

Gangwon Province, South Korea registered more than a foot of snow on Thursday, prompting an unprecedented mid-May snow advisory.

Mount Seorak had logged 42 cm (16.5 inches) by 6 AM Thursday, with Hyangro Peak posting similar totals.

Heavy snow at Socheong Daebiso, Seoraksan Mountain, Gangwon Province on May 16, 2024 [National Park Service]

In response, the Korea Meteorological Administration issued a heavy snow advisory:

This marked the very first time such an advisory has been issued in mid-May (or later) since the roll-out of the warning system back in 1996, and only the second-time in the month of May (the first occurrence being in 2021).

The advisory was issued across the mountainous regions of Gangwon, becoming effective wherever 5+ cm (2+ inches) of snow was forecast; it cautioned drivers to use extra precautions on the roads given the reduce visibility and treacherous conditions.

Cold Front To Drop Snow On Aussie Alps

Australia's impending cold front will drop mountain thermometers below freezing and deliver snow to Alpine regions.

Following the historically early flurries back in April, which blanketed ski resorts in New South Wales and Victoria, another round of cold and snow is approaching from the south this week, readying the Aussie slopes ready for their openings in early-June.

Overall, it’s been a cold and wet start to autumn down under, with a host of monthly low temperature records falling. Even according to ‘official’ BoM datasets, April was a colder-than-average month, even against the cool 1951-1980 reference period and all.