Russia In The Freezer; India Chills; Fewer Weather Stations; + Governments Fund Campaign To Quash Climate Dissent

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Russia In The Freezer

Moscow saw a snowy weekend, with Khabarovsk Krai enduring extreme frosts.

In Moscow, the arrival of a polar front led to persistent snowfall, with accumulations touching 6 inches. While to the east, winter took a turn for the extreme in Khabarovsk Krai. Owing to the historic snow cover that accumulated through November, central areas have noted rare -40C (-40F) readings, with the day’s averaging 6C below normal.

Snow-covered roads in the capital and extreme cold in the Far East hint at a fierce winter season to come.

India Chills

Northern India continues to chill as snowfall graces the mountains. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of icy northwesterly winds sweeping through the region, bringing even harsher cold in the coming days.

The season’s first snow arrived in Munsiyari, Uttarakhand over the weekend, with Auli, another hill town, also witnessed snow and temps of -5.3C (22.5F).

Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh also saw snows and anomalous lows, of -4.6C (23.7F).

Kufri, likewise, shivered at -3.1C (26.4F).

While further north, Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir noted a rare -9C (15.8F) low.

Summerkot: Upper Shimla Narkanda sees -4.6C, with Kufri down to -3.1C.

The plains, while devoid of snow, have not been spared the cold.

Cities like Udaipur and Amritsar saw 5C (41F). Delhi, too, experienced the chill, with the IMD predicting even colder days ahead owing to icy northwesterly winds.

These winds will drive temperatures down further across states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. Rajasthan will be the first to feel the brunt of the cold wave from Dec 9, with Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh joining by Dec 11.

Health and weather agencies recommend Indians wear layered clothing, ensure proper heating indoors, and limit outdoor exposure during peak cold hours.

Fewer Weather Stations

In recent decades, the field of meteorology has faced significant setbacks due to budget cuts and operational reductions, leading to a marked decline in weather observation infrastructure.