Wellington's Cold Start To Summer; Iran's Freeze Drives Gas Consumption To Record Highs; "Polar Vortex Watch"; Antarctic Sea Ice Extent Above 1979-1990 Average; Pio XI Glacier Advances; + Solar Hush

The COLD TIMES are returning...

Wellington's Cold Start To Summer

Wellington, New Zealand is enduring its chilliest starts to the year in a decade, with a prolonged streak of cold weather.

MetService data reveals this summer has been anything but summery, with 13 consecutive days of below-average temperatures — the longest January cold spell since 2014.

Meteorologist Clare O’Connor confirmed the anomaly, noting January’s average temperature of 17C (62.6F) is nearly 3C below normal. "This is one of the longest runs of below-average daily temperatures we’ve seen in summer since 1980," she said.

Persistent southerlies, driven by low-pressure systems to the east of the North Island, are the main culprits. These winds have battered the region with gusts up to 100km/h and delivered double the usual rainfall, resulting in cloudy skies and colder days.

Iran's Freeze Drives Gas Consumption To Record Highs

The National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) announced Monday that daily gas consumption in Iran had soared to 874 million cubic meters (mcm) in the past 24 hrs owing to biting cold. This set a new record, pipping the previous high of 872 mcm.

Head of the NIGC, Saeid Tavakkoli, said the company has had to exceed government-mandated supply levels this winter.

Iran, the world’s fourth-largest natural gas consumer after the U.S., Russia, and China, and the third-largest producer, has faced unprecedented demand this year due to unusually early, intense, and persistent cold. The surge in heating demand has led authorities to curtail gas supplies to industries and power plants, triggering brief electricity shortages across the country.

The cold began back on November 12, when gas consumption fired to 794 mcm. Consistently high usage ever since has tested the country’s infrastructure and supply capabilities, which are seen to be creaking.

"Polar Vortex Watch"

A severe Arctic outbreak is set to bring record-breaking cold and snow to Canada and the United States starting next week, with temperatures plunging 40F below normal. A hundred+ million are expected to face brutal conditions, with historic lows and widespread disruptions expected.