Temperatures drop sharply, Yakutsk region at minus 50 degrees Celsius, snowstorm covers Moscow

On December 4, temperatures in many places in Russia's Siberia region dropped sharply, down to minus 50 degrees Celsius, while a blizzard covered the capital Moscow with record snowfall, disrupting flights.

Heavy snowfall in Moscow, Russia. (Source: Reuters)

According to local meteorological stations, the temperature in the capital of Yakutsk of the Sakha Republic (Russia), one of the coldest cities in the world located in northeastern Siberia and about 5,000km east of Moscow, was recorded at minus 50 degrees Celsius.

Across the Sakha Republic, temperatures have been hovering around minus 44 degrees Celsius to minus 48 degrees Celsius, with some places even dropping below minus 50 degrees Celsius. This is an unusually early cold snap for the republic, which is roughly the size of India.

Most of the Sakha Republic lies in permafrost. Temperatures of minus 50 degrees Celsius have become less common in recent years due to climate change and the permafrost showing signs of thawing.

Meanwhile, unprecedented heavy snowfalls have delayed flights at several airports in the capital Moscow due to thick snow covering the runways.

At least 54 flights were delayed and five others were canceled at Moscow's three largest airports, RIA news agency reported. Temperatures in Moscow are expected to drop to around minus 18 degrees Celsius this weekend.

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