Russian Cold Breaks Records; Snow Spans The Andes; July 2026 Was Not Hotter Than The Dust Bowl; + Global Burn Area At Record Low Levels In 2026
Daytime heat is not increasing. Instead, rising nighttime temperatures are pulling the averages up.
Russian Cold Breaks Records
Fresh temperature records have swept northern Russia, with snow and further sub-zero lows now hitting parts of Yakutia.
In Reboly, Karelia, the temperature fell to 3C (37.4F) on Aug 13, breaking the date’s previous record low of 4.1C (39.4F) set in 1965. According to the Pogoda i Klimat climate monitor, the station has operated since 1901.
Thousands of miles east, Shelagontsy, Yakutia dropped to -4.8C (23.4F), breaking its Aug 13 record of -4.6C (23.7F) from 1953. The remote station, WMO 24329, has been operating since 1940.
Yakutia’s state news agency YSIA reports wet snow in the mountains and overnight frosts down to -5C (23F) across parts of the northwest and northeast on Aug 14. Even coastal highs are forecast to struggle to just 5C (41F).
The latest chill follows repeated cold incursions into Yakutia this month.
Snow Spans The Andes
A remarkable snow sequence is lining up along the spine of South America, with meteorological agencies flagging wintry blasts from the tropical Andes south into Patagonia.
