Environment

Oymyakon, 'coldest town on Earth', set to get even colder

by Rachel Nixon | December 22, 2008 at 03:37 pm

2355 views | 19 Recommendations | 7 comments

Here in North America we may be experiencing a considerable cold spell, but it seems it is nowhere near compared to what residents of the town of Oymyakon in Siberia may soon be facing this winter.

Oymyakon is known as the coldest town on earth after it reached a temperature of minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit. But in the following days meteorologists expect it to decrease to minus 83.2 to 90.4 degrees Fahrenheit .

"In the next few days we expect a cold spell in the towns of Verkhoyansk and Oymyakon, with weather likely to drop to minus 64-68 degrees Celsius (minus 83.2-90.4 Fahrenheit)," a spokesman of a local meteorologist service informed according to Russian information agency Novosti.

The spokesman said that the temperature forecasted is due to an influx of a cold polar air mass.

Overnight in Oymyakon, temperatures fell to -60 degrees Celsius (-76 Fahrenheit).

In the town of Verkhoyansk, located some 600 km (372 miles) from Oymyakon and also noted for its exceptionally cold winters, the temperatures hit -55 degrees Celsius (-67 Fahrenheit) on Sunday night.

More freezing weather, as well as fog and blizzards are expected in the region this week.

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timbarton

at 17:53 on December 22nd, 2008

I couldn't believe how cold it was in downtown Vancouver last week. And of course it was even colder in northern BC. And then this! Who lives in Oymyakon and, more importantly, why??? There is no information on Wikipedia as to who the inhabitants are. Anyone have any ideas???

Rachel Nixon

at 21:08 on December 22nd, 2008

Thanks for your comments. I couldn't find much information about Oymyakon, but here's an interesting interview with a geographer who did a documentary on it, which contains some more information about how people cope in sub-zero temperatures.

Ravi Dixit

at 05:05 on December 23rd, 2008

Hi Rachel/ Timbarton,

An interesting interview on NGC news about life, food habits and the people in Oymyakon. Life is a chilling Challenge.

bolotbootur

at 21:48 on December 22nd, 2008

That's how it looks like when it is below minus 45 degrees Celsius (minus 49 degrees Fahrenheit). Lenin Square. Yakutsk, Siberia/Russia.

bolotbootur has contributed a photo to this story.

Uwe Paschen

at 05:30 on December 23rd, 2008

Hum, That is where the Astronaut should go to train fro Mars. They may change their minds once they live in Oymyakon for a time. Last Year a couple of Japanese went there to film a documentary about this town wish was broadcasted on NHK Last Summer.

It also explains why so many WWII prisoners died in Siberia in the Gullacks.

harringtola

at 20:05 on December 27th, 2008

Not to make light of it but it appears that this area is not impacted by global warming. Or is it actually the case that global warming will cause colder temps in some areas?