China's Record Low of -53 Degrees, Severe Cold Also Hits Korea and Japan

0.7 Degrees Lower Than -52.3°C in 1969
Cold Siberian Air Moves South Affecting Korea and Japan

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] The temperature in Mohe (漠河) City, Heilongjiang Province, the northernmost part of China, dropped to minus 53 degrees Celsius on the 22nd. This is the lowest temperature ever recorded in China’s meteorological observation history.

On the 23rd, Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua and other local media reported that temperatures measured at some observation points in Mohe recorded minus 50 degrees on the 20th, minus 50.9 degrees on the 21st, and dropped to minus 53 degrees around 7 a.m. on the 22nd. This is 0.7 degrees lower than the previous record low of minus 52.3 degrees set in 1969 since the beginning of meteorological observations in China.

The view of Mohe City, Heilongjiang Province, China, taken on the 8th.
[Photo by Xinhua Yonhap News]

Located south of the China-Russia border, Mohe has an average annual temperature around minus 3 degrees Celsius and is known as the "Arctic of China" as it is the coldest region in China. Snow begins to fall every May, and the area spends 7 to 8 months of the year covered in snow and ice. Mohe is the only place in China where one can observe the aurora and the midnight sun.

The Cause of the Cold Wave: Cold Air Over Siberia

The cause of this cold wave is the cold air accumulated over Siberia. Recently, cold air below minus 50 degrees Celsius has settled at an altitude of 5 km over Siberia. This air mass moves southward, affecting China, the Korean Peninsula, and the Japanese archipelago.

The Korea Meteorological Administration issued cold wave warnings and advisories nationwide as of 9 p.m. on the 23rd. A cold wave warning is issued when the minimum temperature remains below minus 15 degrees for two or more days or when a rapid temperature drop is expected to cause damage. A cold wave advisory is issued when the minimum temperature is minus 12 degrees. On the 24th, the nationwide morning minimum temperature is expected to range from minus 23 to minus 6 degrees, and the daytime maximum temperature from minus 14 to minus 4 degrees. This is 10 to 15 degrees lower than the previous day, making the 24th the coldest day of this winter so far.

Japan will also experience the cold wave from the 24th to the 26th, with heavy snow forecasts. On the 23rd, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced, "From the 24th to the 26th, the strongest cold air of this winter will flow into the airspace over Japan," adding, "There is a high possibility of heavy snowfall accumulating in areas facing the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean." They also advised, "Avoid going out unless necessary, and if driving, prepare winter tires and chains." The Japan Meteorological Agency stated that this cold wave is a once-in-a-decade event.

Local public broadcaster NHK forecasted that on the 25th, the minimum temperature will be minus 12 degrees in Sapporo, Hokkaido, and minus 9 degrees in Nagano, while even central Tokyo, where temperatures rarely drop below freezing, is expected to fall to minus 3 degrees. The expected snowfall in Japan over 24 hours from the morning of the 24th is 70 to 100 cm in Niigata Prefecture, 70 to 90 cm in the Hokuriku region, and 60 to 80 cm in the Tohoku region.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.