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Subscribe to RSSThe temperature in Siberia is reaching lows not felt in more than half a century as the mercury dips to 42 degrees below zero and the air instantly freezes boiling water. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
Americans feeling their first wintry blast of the season on Wednesday could take some comfort from this: In Moscow it felt like 10 below – part of a week-long cold spell across Russia that has parts of Siberia feeling like 50 below.
Across Russia, the deep freeze killed at least 45 people over the last week, 21 on Tuesday alone, the English-language Moscow Times reported Wednesday. Nearly 270 people were hospitalized, more than half with frostbite.
Russia's emergency ministry urged everyone in Moscow to stay indoors on Wednesday, while forecasters said the cold could get worse over the weekend.
Siberia has been hardest hit, with cities like Novosibirsk dipping to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday. With the wind chill, it felt like minus 47.
The temperatures have been abnormally low for Russia at this time of year.
Related: US snowstorm threatens travel
Last week, the cold in Siberia nearly killed two circus elephants after their trailer caught fire, the RIA news agency reported.
A handler quickly devised a plan, buying two cases of vodka from a nearby village and serving it to the elephants -- albeit diluted with warm water.
"After that they roared as if they were in the jungle. Apparently they were happy," the unnamed handler was quoted as saying.
Valery Titievsky / AFP - Getty Images
A woman walking in Novosibirsk, a city in Russia's Siberia, reflects the cold there on Wednesday. Temperatures dipped to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit -- and the wind chill made it feel like minus 47.
Neighboring Ukraine has also felt the freeze -- 37 people have died there so far this month because of subzero temperatures, the government said Tuesday.
The cold followed storms that left some areas with nearly two feet of snow.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Russia is only now feeling its "first wintry blast"? Guess winter takes a while to get going there! Although I should talk since winter only just arrived in Colorado last night.
And I sincerely doubt the elephants were saved by drinking vodka. It's more likely they survived in spite of it.
It says "Americans". They were talking about YOU getting YOUR first wintry blast, just as your comment says.
(To future readers, for the record, the time this was posted was two hours ago, and the comment was about 1:45 ago, so it was not edited, and corrected)
Ah. You're right. My bad.
I could cuddly up to some Russian hotty to keep her warm. As long as she didn't put her cold hands on my b____s
Even the elephants in Russia like vodka. Cute story :)
I am married to a Russian hotty and do my best to keep her warm. I guess we can't call this global warming now, can we? I know, now it is "climate change". I was in Ukraine with my wife a few years ago and it was at a level of cold that I had never experienced. It was 30 below zero and the winds were blowing at about 20 mph, consistently. The humidity was also above 90%. It was a living hell! And I lived my childhood in Wyoming where it got really cold and windy, but, there was never that level of humidity. The cold was truly inescapable. I cannot imagine being homeless during a real Russian cold snap!
yule tide carols sung by a choir and Jack Frost nipping at your nose!
Just so you all know...Vodka is the solution for everything. Apparently. J/k.
I, myself, am from Moscow and can only imagine how tough it must be there now, but I've personally never experienced such temperatures in Moscow. Though, it shouldn't be a surprise for Siberia.
I want to know who these "hot" Russian woman are braving sub zero degree weather....
Actually it did because alcohol made blood vessels open up and increased circulation to the extremities of the elephant. After hours in those temps they suffered minor frost bite to the tips of the huge ears.
Hot blooded, unlike Amerikanski that dress and act like men and men act and dress like women. all of Amerika must be gay.
AG99:
Winter does NOT begin until December 21 each year. The article stated "Americans feeling their first wintry blast of the season", not the Russian Federation. 10 below is somewhat normal for Moscow. Eastern Russia is about normal as well.
Good old global warming... where's those carbon emissions when you need them??
Well, this just goes to show that Global Warming can be a good thing. It probably would have felt like 49 degrees below zero otherwise. I'm just wondering if it was an accident that the headline states that "deep freeze across Russia dips to 50 below" when the actual temperature was 20 below? Heck even including the windchill, it only got to 47 below. But, anything to spin a good yarn I suppose.
What a travesty. They are not dying because of - 10 degrees. They are dying because they have no warm shelter from the russian oppressive government. And instead of all you talking about this travesty all you privilaged middle class liberals are talking about global warming or making fun of the elephant. Pathetic.
Eventually you all are going to live like russians after Obama is through with this country. Stupid college educated liberal boobs.
big deal Alaska has been -30+ for a couple weeks. Also does not seem to be people dieing, also that is not the feel like temperatures. How is this news worthy? It is Siberia right? Or is this the agenda about climate change.
co2now.org is a good place to begin to learn facts and understand what is happening before anyone embarasses themselves.
(FYI: I am not a "middle-class liberal," but I do respect common sense, education, facts, and maturity.)
Global warming will be very much welcome in Russia
Hot Russian women? Someone should be kind enough to inform the woman in the lead photo that ice crystals won't form on her mustache if she shaved it off.
Dude, it is not a woman in the first photo... it is Lenin impersonator! Hot Russian women are in the second photo. Very scrumptious indeed...
Makes Americans looks like such pansies. All you hear about here is what the latest mental condition is keeping teens thin.
And that's the problem. The body restricts blood flow from the extremities to prevent cold blood from shocking the heart. Alcohol hastens the onset of hypothermia. Those elephants were protected by their sheer mass, not the alcohol.
Homer: And now we see who doesn't read the posts above them before commenting. Kevin C already pointed that out in the second post.
Did the elephants turn pink after the vodka?
Nope but they started seeing pink people. lol
Vodka; first I turn red, then green, then I puke, and lastly I turn grey...and it's hell trying to keep the bed from spinning...other than that, it's great @!$%#, man.
1. Yet another example of the healing power of vodka.
2. Gods bless those folks - stay warm!
HAPPENING
Um...huh?
Leave the gun; where you been - the world ends in 2 days. Don't tell me you didn't spend your life savings on a bunker and a pod.
I knew the Russians would be the first to go.
The Russians, really? I was always sure it would start in Los Angeles, somehow.
Nothing, happening with you? :)
People from Siberia have the same isolated loser suffragist expression on their face as people from Minnesota, North Dakota and western Wisconsin.
And Northern Maine
During the '90s I worked for a company that had it's headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. I had to go for training two or three times a year. One year my boss called me and told me I needed to go up to MN for some training. The problem was that it was December and I would have gotten home just a day or two before Christmas. The night I arrived it was the first winter storm of the year for the greater Minneapolis area. It snowed a foot that night and was below zero for the following 4 or 5 days. Being from North Carolina I was not used to that level of cold. It was 15 to 20 below at one point and my sinuses froze instantly upon going outside. I was never so miserable. Nearly two weeks of that kind of weather. I was never so glad to be home in my life. Although it was cold here, 45 degrees beats below zero any time. I am greatful I live where I do because when it does get cold and/or snows it only lasts a few days, not 4 months! My boss did give me a choice before going.....He said I could go in December or go in February!!!! I took my chances on December because February can be extremely cold.
Once you get acclimated 20-30 degrees is alright if the wind isn't blowing. Get a nice sunny day and get a 40 degree day it is not unusual to see people in shirtsleeves, if it's been cold. Farmer's Almanac claims January to be vary cold in our region, we will see.
Hmmm. After traveling and working throughout the US, I found the friendliest, happiest people in ND and SD. Honest, decent people throughout MN, ND, SD - I could leave my truck unlocked and running while I got groceries or a beer. Not true when I traveled through the southern US - kept my gun handy at all times. And it's no longer true in ND; too many Texans there as result of the oil boom. Crime is waaay up. I think the cold generally keeps the riffraff out. The tradeoff is living with the cold winters. And by the way, the temperatures in this article are misleading... wind chill has little too do with actual temperature.
Not New Jersey?
Only when they're lit...
Thank you 3B, I would like to think we are dammit!
LOL, then stop by for a drink. Just leave before the high wears off.
When I hear stories like this, I really can't blame the Ruskies for drinking as much as they do.
I prefer Bourbon over vodka however.
If it's that cold,,then why is one of the women in the picture not wearing a hat or gloves? Neither of them looks like their suffering in the cold either. But that's just my view.
They are drinking to escape the reality of their situation. Alchohol does absolutely nothing to warm your core body temperature. In fact, it lowers your body temperature and alcohol contributes to a lot of exposure deaths around the world. Nothing against those that like a drink now and then but too much can cause one to make bad decisions and bad decisions and 50 below zero do not mix.
Booze is right up there with Meth in my book. Might as well just sock your self in the temple - it's about the same affect.
"PowerSource PC
They are drinking to escape the reality of their situation. Alchohol does absolutely nothing to warm your core body temperature. In fact, it lowers your body temperature and alcohol contributes to a lot of exposure deaths around the world. Nothing against those that like a drink now and then but too much can cause one to make bad decisions and bad decisions and 50 below zero do not mix."
I wish I could drink to escape your pathetic posts.
At least 45 people died. They should pass a legislation to ban such a thing - maybe congresswoman Feinstein will help them?
That would be Commrade Feinstein
I don't understand why Feinstein doesn't call to ban gravity? Do you know how many people gravity kills each year?
No need to ban gravity. The right already denies all science.
We already have legislation for that its called Global Warming which is not helping curb the problem.
Yeah, and the left has a real sense of direction! The left just seems to make up their science and claim that it is above question! Albert Einstein once said that you are not a true scientist unless you question everything! This means that there is no such thing as "settled science"! And I believe the obvious fraud shown in the East Anglia e-mail scandal is a pretty good indication that the left's "Climate Change" religion needs to be questioned!
Science is only as good as the available technology. 150yrs ago, they thought that using Leeches to "Bleed" a person was good science. Back in the 70's Science told us we were heading into a new ice age.
There is always something new to learn.
And a few hundred years ago it was accepted science that the earth was the center of the universe. Any scientist who disagreed was executed! Then the earth was absolutely flat! Any scientist who disagreed was ex-communicated and any explorer was told that they would fall off of the edge if they went too far! I guess I would put "global warming" at the same level!
Smarterthan.......Your comment exposes your user name for the joke that it is. Conservatives deny all science? You can think a little deeper than that can't you since you are after all "smarterthananyconservative"?
Janine... you better do some research... they think it is STILL a good Idea.. I'm a 20 year medic and have seen personally the us of medicinal leeches. They use it to promote healing of severed parts and help with blood flow because of the natural "heparin" (blood thinner) that they produce. Science tend to "outsmart" itself. HCGW is a example where in the 80's a 2nd Iceage was practically preached and now glacial melting causing sea rise that will destroy coastal life... Today observation do indeed show less glacial ice on the edges but and increase in thickness , this with a la nina cause a net DROP in sea level.: here is your links for your education..
http://www.yalemedlaw.com/2011/08/medicinal-leeches-natures-finest-surgical-tool-from-the-swamps/
http://phys.org/news/2012-10-la-nina-global-sea.html
"Janine-1645002
Science is only as good as the available technology. 150yrs ago, they thought that using Leeches to "Bleed" a person was good science. Back in the 70's Science told us we were heading into a new ice age.
There is always something new to learn."
Do you have any idea what an idiot you are?
Why is it that those against common-sense combat-weapon control are the ones who make the most infantile comments and the ones who personally attack those who may disagree with them?(It is outrageous that guns are even in this climate report!)
Maybe they are even more afraid of attention given to mental health than combat-gun control. Attention needs to be given to those who do not act their age, those who who lack elementary discernment, civility/respect of others, and responsibility for themselves and others in society. (Trolling on the internet cannot be an example of good mental health.)
Global warming LOL
It's climate change bozo. But then again if you actually read a few articles instead of listening to know-nothings you would not post such dumb thoughts.
Sensible One Don't you remember the Battle of Leningrad in 1944. Taken from "The Siege of Leningrad"
"The frozen earth meant their bodies could not be buried. Corpses accumulated in the city's streets, parks and other open areas.
To compound the misery, the Germans incessantly bombarded the city with air and artillery attacks.
The Russian winter had one positive effect. It froze Lake Ladoga to the city's east and created a life-line over which caravans of trucks hauled a meager amount of food and supplies."
Climate change, "I think not". This vast country has a long history of cold winters.
Why does the headline say "50 below", when it was only 20 below with a 45 below wind chill?
Because they wanted people to read the article.
I agree. Trust me these broads aren't out in 50 below weather.
It's not 50 below and those women walking around with faces and hands exposed--unless they were the ones in the hospital with frostbite.
I lived in Manitoba for a decade and 40-60 below was not uncommon at all. Spend 6 mo in that clime and you learn what cold is. People die there every year too.
With apology to Heinlein, the prairie is a harsh mistress.
Reminds me a few years back when a "reporter" from the Today show was "reporting" live on some drastic, dangerous, torrential flooding while paddling a canoe when some guy walks behind her shot revealing that the water she was in was only ankle deep.
Yes they seem to have exaggerated the temp for a dramatic headline, but in the case of the two women, they are in Moscow and it says temps there were 10 below.
Still damned cold if you ask me.
and here we are in Minnesota with a mild winter. go figure. go figue why morons this state think everyone loves snow and all we want to do is sky, snow mo bile and @!$%#
The cold pool of air appears to be over Siberia and Alaska now (a recent poster from Fairbanks said it was minus 40F). For Minnesota, it is still early in he season...
Its that damn Global warming that causing Global cooling.
More illiteracy in journalism: The headline says "deep freeze dips to 50 below", although we later learn that the temperature only got to 20 below. It is the windchill that is close to 50 below. The headline implies temperature.
After 0 it's all downhill. Ask anyone the difference between 20 below and 50 below on human flesh and they will tell you it all feels the same.
I have been in 60 below weather. I do not want to do it again!
Me too!! "Why not Minot? Freezin's the reason!"
I would cuddle up to their fur that's for sure. Bring on the Vodka babes
Global Warming, blah, blah, blah. Man-made climate change, blah, blah, blah. Al Gore, blah, blah, blah. Broken record, blah, blah, blah. 12/21/12!
Clueless denier, blah , blah, blah.
Clueless sheep, blah. blah, blah. Or is that baa, baa, baa?
When are you naysayers going to get that 'Global Warming' is now called 'Climate Change' and it is extreme weather conditions that will affect the earth. I think I'll stick with 95% of climate scientists rather than Rush Limbaugh, his oil company buddies and the far-right, religious ignorant.
When are you going to get that extreme weather conditions won't affect the earth .... only the people living on it.
Greg, blah, blah, blah..... liberal is always right even if wrong.... blah, blah, blah..... a single volcanic eruption puts out more carbon and particulates than the entirety of mankind's existence.... blah, blah, blah..... Global warming is "settled science".... the basis of science is to always question... blah, blah, blah.... Must be nice to be a liberal and be able to have complete faith in their "Global Warming" religion!
Dan, blah, blah, blah.... rightwing nuts are always right even if wrong... blah, blah, blah...Humans emit 100 times more CO2 than volcanoes. What Dan said was a lie.. blah, blah, blah.. AGW is not up for debate. It was confirmed over 40 years ago like Evolution the findings continue to get stronger for it.... blah, blah, blah...rightwing nuts play off myth believers religion to gain supports.. pathetic fks... blah, blah..
Ya wait till these babes get off work at 6:35 am and its 34 below zero but 74 below wind chill. Welcome to Minnesota 1975. I worked for FAA at the time and those were very official readings. My truck was plugged into an outlet and I was running synthetic oil and that truck started on the first crank. The doors wouldn't close due to locks freezing, so I used the power cord to tie them closed.
Told my car pooler, if the truck breaks down in this cold, we got ten minutes (rural america) or were dead meat.
It appears that Siberia was going through the same weather that we had in Alaska last week. We had two days of heavy snow followed by two days of stupid friggin cold. Ours was not twenty below though. It was 50 below before the wind-chill was factored in. We had one guy die out in one of the villages because he had no heat in his cabin but that's it. I thought Russians were supposed to be tough and hardy.
One of the worst parts about the arctic winter is driving through ice fog. It's like driving through pea soup.
Global warming is now called climate change, because the climate did not get warmer.
gee I don't see minus 50 as being so bad it's when you get to 80 below chill factor that tires start to break, and pipes buried four feet down freeze up, that's when you have to be careful
That Global warming is a bytch
50 below sounds just right for me, not to warm and not to cold but just right.Was at Kent Lake today Metal Detecting in my tee shirt the weathers so balmy here in southeast Michigan.Last year i was out until the second week of January, but had a better start last year, so far not much gold and silver in the water, hope to get to deeper water before it gets too icy on the lake.
Ok big deal, In Fairbanks ALASKA it's been down to -43 over Thanksgiving and down to -40 now. AND ALASKA is part of the USA but you don't hear anything about it!!
I lived in / out Fairbanks .. from late 88-90 ... winter of the earthquake at the World Series if hadnt gotten above -25 for over 2 weeks and that was in Oct.
-25-60 was norm for a good 2 months in certain areas.
So in the second picture of this feature are two women walking...one with a hat and gloves and the other no hat, no gloves! HELLO!!!!
I don't know, but I'll take that pretty fur coat and hat!!
p.s. It looks like that black hat should go on the other one with the black coat.
I wonder how they feel about global warming. Of course a census of scientists attribute this dip in the temperature an aberration.
It's not global warming, it's global climate change. Global warming is so named because climate change was first noted as a temperature spike. Global climate change can include colder weather and harsher storms, not just more sun.
Мои ягодицы заморожены вместе, товарищ!
I hope you don't get constipated, or that will freeze too.
"My buttocks are frozen together, friend!"
Buttocks are froze, not his a$$hole.
Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
What about Alaska and Northwestern Canada??? It's was -53 F @ my friends house north of Fairbanks a couple of nights ago and there have been several nights with temps in the -40 F range.....
And the records in Tower and Embarrass Minnesota have reached standing temps of -59, and though our winters here regularly reach temps in the -25 to -30 standing temps, but only for short spells and usually not every year. I think the biggest difference I can see is that Siberia reaches these temps for long periods and worse, throw in humidity of 90% + at times.
Damned cold at any rate...