Record Cold Strikes Japan; Frigid Streak At The South Pole; Low Olive Harvest In Greece Due To 'Weather Shifts'; + Droughts Are Decreasing

All those who cite the IPCC's RCP8.5 scenario should be diagnosed mad.

Record Cold Strikes Japan

Polar cold has gripped Japan this week, felling long-standing temperature records.

The northern Tōhoku region has copped the worst of it, with Yabukawa posting -1.8C (28.8F) on May 26, its lowest May reading since the -1.9C (28.6F) set on May 29, 1989.

It's proving an unsettled bag for eastern Asia this week, with fierce cold anomalies striking through the heart of the region:

GFS 2m Temperature Anomalies (C) May 29 [tropicaltidbits.com].

While for the continent at large, pinks and purples have been dominating large swathes, most notably in Russia and Kazakhstan:

GFS 2m Temperature Anomalies (C) May 29 [tropicaltidbits.com].

Heavy and rare late-May snows have also been noted, across the likes of Kyrgyzstan, including in Kopuro-Baza, Talas on May 26:

Frigid Streak At The South Pole

For six days in a row (May 22 to 27) temperatures at the South Pole Station held below -60C (-76F).