Record Cold Czech Republic; Northern Hemisphere Snow Above Average; Japan's Resorts At 20+ Feet; + Antarctica Nears -60C

Preliminary reports show 750 cm (24.6ft) snow depths at the Mt. Gassan Ski Field.

Record Cold Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is locked in an icy grip, with extreme frosts plunging temperatures to -30.2C (-22.4F) in the mountains.

According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMU), nighttime temperatures are ranging from -9C (15.8F) to -14C (6.8F) across much of the country, with mountainous areas tanking even further.

The deep freeze has persisted for several nights now, with CHMU meteorologists taking to X: "Tuesday night was particularly frigid, especially in northwestern and northern Bohemia, where clear skies allowed temperatures to plummet. ... The Jizera Mountains saw even harsher conditions, with temperatures dropping below -20C (-4F)."

The coldest spot cracked even lower: Kořenov Jizerka hit -30.2C (-22.4F) at 5:00 AM Wednesday morning.

Winter is biting across much of Europe, with records falling across the likes of Denmark, Germany, Poland, and Romania. Poland recorded -41.1C (-42F) earlier in the week, in the High Tatras — the lowest temperature ever recorded in the country.

Northern Hemisphere Snow Above Average

Despite a slow start to the season, Northern Hemisphere total snow mass is now above the 1982-2012 average—back where it belongs (with six of the past eight seeing above-average snows):