30 Pictures That Show How Unfathomably Cold It Is In Russia Right Now
An American journalist in Russia, Alec Luhn, shared a photo of noodles and an egg to show how cold some parts of the country get in winter.
Taken in Novosibirsk, a city in the southwestern part of Siberia, the picture shows noodles and a cracked egg seemingly frozen in mid-air after the temperature dipped to -40 degrees in the region just a few days ago.
Pretty soon, people all over the country started posting brutal and beautiful photos too. From frosty forests to guys enjoying ice cream in shorts, here are some that have caught Bored Panda's attention!
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Yuliya Shipitsina, a woman from Novosibirsk who captured gorgeous frost on a window, also acknowledged that the weather leading up to New Year didn't bless the region with warmth. However, she told Bored Panda that the locals are used to it and aren't intimidated by it. "In cold weather, it is better to dress like a cabbage so that there are several layers of clothing. It will help to keep warm. But sometimes [you don't need anything at all]—if you go to a Russian sauna, the best option is the nearest snowdrift."
"This is Siberia, baby!"
SUP Novosibirsk, a company that organizes stand-up paddleboard trips in the area, also shared a picture from the cold. In it, Santa can be seen surfing through the river. "Our winters are very cold, and in the last few days the temperature dropped to -42° C, which is rare even here," a company spokesperson told Bored Panda. "In such [conditions], it is dangerous to even inhale air with your lungs; you need to use special waterproof wetsuits and warm EVA boots. Of course, it's still very cold, but after 5 minutes of active rowing, it gets hot."
Most of Russia has a continental climate, with long, cold winters and brief summers. However, since the country is so huge, there is a wide range of summer and winter temperatures. January temperatures are in the range of 6°C (45 °F) on the southeastern shore of the Black Sea, but things up north can get pretty crazy. For example, in 1974, the record low temperature of -71°C (-96 °F) was recorded at the northeast Siberian village of Oymyakon, the lowest temperature in an inhabited region ever. In many areas of Siberia, the soil never thaws for more than a foot.
Lake Baikal, Siberia , Russia
Pretty now I wanna go there I don’t care about the cold I’m to In love!!!’
That's really gorgeous It doesn't look like it here, but I've seen cases where people did this kind of thing using boiling water. I know it seems really obvious to anyone with a brain, but DON'T DO IT THAT WAY.
"Finally, my favorite frosts came to Siberia. Just right after heavy snowfall. This is the kind of winter I love, though you can't walk for a long time. The city is empty, although the New Year is on the nose. Probably because not every car will start in this cold.
...
During these two days a dense frosty fog lay over the city. The temperature dropped to -42 degrees. See how it looks from above."
"Walking the dog in -43C weather, such a pleasure"
I can't tell if the doggo is angry at the cold or pleased to be showing off his snazzy sweater.
Members of a training club after cold-water dip in Lenin Square, in Novosibirsk
-42 °C at Novosibirsk
That temperature is crazy, but I don't really see it in the picture, if you know what I mean.
Note: this post originally had 74 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Living in Russia all my life, the coldest temperature I've ever experienced was -37C. It's really okay unless windy. But my only answer to winter swimming is "hell, no". It's crazy!
Canadian here: coldest I've felt was -35 but the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan get much colder. So glad I'm not there.
In Saskatchewan it rarely gets colder than -30, but there is nothing to stop the wind from making it feel colder.
Saskatchewanian here, can confirm. For long stretches of winter, we often will see between -45 to -60 with the windchill.
Lish haha
Lish haha
colourwithyou haha
Everyone: do not listen to Lish. Sask does not "often" get to -60 with windchill. In Feb 2019 it hit -53 with windchill which was the lowest temp in the whole province in a decade.
@Full Name, ah, that's better then. I was afraid it might actually be cold there.
Brònach yes
You welcome
Being from a relatively warm country(Portugal), I can't even imagine being possible, to function normally or move from bed with this temperatures...I am amazed that they are able to live a normal life...though people!
I live in a cold climate, although it doesn't often get as low as -40 C any more. You make plans for it ahead of time. You have a different set of tires put on your car in October, you have a different wardrobe that includes boots, gloves, hats, and a winter coat, your house is designed for it with insulation and heating. Moving from the bed isn't a problem because the house thermostat is set at 21.5º C.
We tend to keep ours at 19. Actually when it get down to around -12 C, the air feels really nice outside. As the saying goes in Swedish, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes."
I always thought, "when it's cold, it's cold", so whether it's -20 C or -5 C, I'm freezing the same. Brrr. Although the more humid, the more biting the cold is.
Caroline Good response!
@Jill: yes, the perfect winter temperature is between -8 C and -15. Cold enough to avoid refrozen melt everywhere, not so cold that it's too unpleasant outside.
Me too
Ikr! I'm like so they just stay home and work...right?!
Peekaboo hidenseeken follower
Okkk
One eventually acclimates to the cold. You get so used to it that when it "warms up" to about -17°C you go without a coat.
Al Christensen lol
Russia is a beautiful country; Siberia is incredible. Was lucky enough to camp in the taiga forest in my late teens, travelling by the trans Siberian railway. It was so hot then as it was the middle of summer, often 38-40 degrees Celsius. I'd love to go back in the winter.
I would love to there and to ride the Tran Siberian railway.
Celeste Grant good
Try living in the midwest (Missouri/Illinois/Indiana/Iowa/etc.) where the weather can be snotty. Rain, freezing rain, rain mixed with snow, snow, cold wind, warms up, and then the cycle can repeat or a mix of any on the list. The extreme cold in the pics would be more endurable.
Garth Bock what
Garth Bock -
Freezing rain is seriously scary stuff. People think the cold is bad, but you just prepare: it can be a chore but it's not unlivable. You can't really prepare for freezing rain though, you just have to wait it out or take your chances. Sure is beautiful if you don't have to go out in it though.
Snow is so beautiful and fun to visit but, as a native San Francisco area Californian. I would never be able to leave the house. I'm freezing when it's below about 70• f
That's because, in San Francisco, below 70 F the fog comes out and sucks out the warmth like a vampire.
I live on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border and sure we get cold winters. But we don't go outside and swim, we eat cheese and drink beer to provide a layer of fat.
Art Vandelay +
There are reasons I do not live there. These are some of them.
Jay Weigel no
Russia looks dreadful.
A normal day in Russia!
Total bs..not one ounce of vodka shown
When you get down to the temperatures F and C are basically the same. Also if you dont have an engine heater for this type of temperature there is no way you are going to get your car started!
I spent two winters in Saskatchewan, Canada, where we had weeks of -30°C, with occasional dips to -50°C. That was enough cold to last me a lifetime. I would explain to people in warmer climates that the difference between 0° and -30° is like the difference between a hot summer day and freezing.
I remember one winter when we first moved to Saskatoon that was like that, but it definitely wasn't the norm. Usually it's hovering around -10 for most of the winter with a short cold snap in February.
I used to work outside in Sask. Yeah, there are certainly weeks where in the morning it's -30 every single day. Not all that often, but it does suck.
I can feel it from here. ❄️
I feel like freezing watching all these pictures 🥶
So pretty but glad I am not there, as I hate snow.
When you look at pictures like this and realize that it doesn't look much different than every day at home (Manitoba, where it was -42C with the windchill last week)
Annette Easton +
Winters on the Canadian prairies used to be a lot colder than they are now. I can think of only one year in the past 10 where it got to almost -40 C. I think it was something like -37 with windchill of -42. But that didn't last for more than a couple of weeks.
I grew up with this. It is literally identical weather in Central and Northern Alberta. It's pretty for about 12 hours. Then you have to go out in it. No thanks. I hate winter with a fiery passion (-20C at the end of April) and I will NEVER go back. I hate it with a fiery passion, and I guarantee that most of the snow worshippers here would very likely be ready to open a vein by the middle of one winter.
Good! More room on the x-country ski trails for the rest of us!
For the Fahrenheit people... Yeah nah, thats cold. ItsCold-5f...a8b499.jpg
Asch it's all the same around -40 C/F.
I can appreciate the beauty of the scenery... from the comfort of my heated home in the UK where it is currently 2 degrees ABOVE zero. I once experienced such extreme cold when I lived in Canada... I DID NOT like!
I wonder what kind of cold they have. Here in sweden where i live its a moist cold, -15c feels like -30c up north in sweden were the cold is dryer.
I believe It's a dry cold! Dry feels always "warmer". 😉
It is inland and as the weather is not tempered by the ocean the summers are very warm and the winters are very cold. Scandinavia has a rather mild climate because of the Atlantic Gulf stream. It originates in the Gulf of Mexico and follows the North American East coast before crossing the Atlantic Ocean as the North Atlantic Current.
I was wondering the same. And is the temperature there the base temp without windchill?
So tell me, when Russians visit Canada in winter...do they feel at home? :)
A lot of these were breathtaking!
I would like to visit someday. I'll probably freeze to death.
So...yeah, Russia is cold, and only the brave/don't give a F**** people survive there. Just know you can eat bears, just probably not the liver
Ignore Aunt Messy. Pretty sure she's bipolar and has been sending people really mean comments for years on BP.
Well, that was bitchy.
wait... what? everyone, I'm sorry but my comment wasn't meant as "bitchy" I'm not really that type. It was more like liking the toughness of those who live there. "the brave" people, "the don't give a f***" people, are those who have that grit in them, and adaptability. seriously sorry if it read any other way.
Correct title is "Novosibirsk"
#2 is pretty self explanatory. here in western Europe when i go running under zero, i feel the cold. but i'm lightly dressed
Below -40C, exposed skin will freeze in about two minutes. You would not be dressed lightly there. However, there are always a couple of yahoos who will run outside in shorts for a millisecond.
I will reread this post in summer to cool down a bit.
I get it's beautiful...what I don't get is how humans can survive that. Who would want to live in that kind of weather. - degrees?? that's just crazy
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One place where global warming would be welcome.
Wow. Just wow.
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Why does anyone live here
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... and imagine millions of innocent people forced labouring 17 hours a day in these conditions... This is communism!
it's not!
mollison yes
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Living in Russia all my life, the coldest temperature I've ever experienced was -37C. It's really okay unless windy. But my only answer to winter swimming is "hell, no". It's crazy!
Canadian here: coldest I've felt was -35 but the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan get much colder. So glad I'm not there.
In Saskatchewan it rarely gets colder than -30, but there is nothing to stop the wind from making it feel colder.
Saskatchewanian here, can confirm. For long stretches of winter, we often will see between -45 to -60 with the windchill.
Lish haha
Lish haha
colourwithyou haha
Everyone: do not listen to Lish. Sask does not "often" get to -60 with windchill. In Feb 2019 it hit -53 with windchill which was the lowest temp in the whole province in a decade.
@Full Name, ah, that's better then. I was afraid it might actually be cold there.
Brònach yes
You welcome
Being from a relatively warm country(Portugal), I can't even imagine being possible, to function normally or move from bed with this temperatures...I am amazed that they are able to live a normal life...though people!
I live in a cold climate, although it doesn't often get as low as -40 C any more. You make plans for it ahead of time. You have a different set of tires put on your car in October, you have a different wardrobe that includes boots, gloves, hats, and a winter coat, your house is designed for it with insulation and heating. Moving from the bed isn't a problem because the house thermostat is set at 21.5º C.
We tend to keep ours at 19. Actually when it get down to around -12 C, the air feels really nice outside. As the saying goes in Swedish, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes."
I always thought, "when it's cold, it's cold", so whether it's -20 C or -5 C, I'm freezing the same. Brrr. Although the more humid, the more biting the cold is.
Caroline Good response!
@Jill: yes, the perfect winter temperature is between -8 C and -15. Cold enough to avoid refrozen melt everywhere, not so cold that it's too unpleasant outside.
Me too
Ikr! I'm like so they just stay home and work...right?!
Peekaboo hidenseeken follower
Okkk
One eventually acclimates to the cold. You get so used to it that when it "warms up" to about -17°C you go without a coat.
Al Christensen lol
Russia is a beautiful country; Siberia is incredible. Was lucky enough to camp in the taiga forest in my late teens, travelling by the trans Siberian railway. It was so hot then as it was the middle of summer, often 38-40 degrees Celsius. I'd love to go back in the winter.
I would love to there and to ride the Tran Siberian railway.
Celeste Grant good
Try living in the midwest (Missouri/Illinois/Indiana/Iowa/etc.) where the weather can be snotty. Rain, freezing rain, rain mixed with snow, snow, cold wind, warms up, and then the cycle can repeat or a mix of any on the list. The extreme cold in the pics would be more endurable.
Garth Bock what
Garth Bock -
Freezing rain is seriously scary stuff. People think the cold is bad, but you just prepare: it can be a chore but it's not unlivable. You can't really prepare for freezing rain though, you just have to wait it out or take your chances. Sure is beautiful if you don't have to go out in it though.
Snow is so beautiful and fun to visit but, as a native San Francisco area Californian. I would never be able to leave the house. I'm freezing when it's below about 70• f
That's because, in San Francisco, below 70 F the fog comes out and sucks out the warmth like a vampire.
I live on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border and sure we get cold winters. But we don't go outside and swim, we eat cheese and drink beer to provide a layer of fat.
Art Vandelay +
There are reasons I do not live there. These are some of them.
Jay Weigel no
Russia looks dreadful.
A normal day in Russia!
Total bs..not one ounce of vodka shown
When you get down to the temperatures F and C are basically the same. Also if you dont have an engine heater for this type of temperature there is no way you are going to get your car started!
I spent two winters in Saskatchewan, Canada, where we had weeks of -30°C, with occasional dips to -50°C. That was enough cold to last me a lifetime. I would explain to people in warmer climates that the difference between 0° and -30° is like the difference between a hot summer day and freezing.
I remember one winter when we first moved to Saskatoon that was like that, but it definitely wasn't the norm. Usually it's hovering around -10 for most of the winter with a short cold snap in February.
I used to work outside in Sask. Yeah, there are certainly weeks where in the morning it's -30 every single day. Not all that often, but it does suck.
I can feel it from here. ❄️
I feel like freezing watching all these pictures 🥶
So pretty but glad I am not there, as I hate snow.
When you look at pictures like this and realize that it doesn't look much different than every day at home (Manitoba, where it was -42C with the windchill last week)
Annette Easton +
Winters on the Canadian prairies used to be a lot colder than they are now. I can think of only one year in the past 10 where it got to almost -40 C. I think it was something like -37 with windchill of -42. But that didn't last for more than a couple of weeks.
I grew up with this. It is literally identical weather in Central and Northern Alberta. It's pretty for about 12 hours. Then you have to go out in it. No thanks. I hate winter with a fiery passion (-20C at the end of April) and I will NEVER go back. I hate it with a fiery passion, and I guarantee that most of the snow worshippers here would very likely be ready to open a vein by the middle of one winter.
Good! More room on the x-country ski trails for the rest of us!
For the Fahrenheit people... Yeah nah, thats cold. ItsCold-5f...a8b499.jpg
Asch it's all the same around -40 C/F.
I can appreciate the beauty of the scenery... from the comfort of my heated home in the UK where it is currently 2 degrees ABOVE zero. I once experienced such extreme cold when I lived in Canada... I DID NOT like!
I wonder what kind of cold they have. Here in sweden where i live its a moist cold, -15c feels like -30c up north in sweden were the cold is dryer.
I believe It's a dry cold! Dry feels always "warmer". 😉
It is inland and as the weather is not tempered by the ocean the summers are very warm and the winters are very cold. Scandinavia has a rather mild climate because of the Atlantic Gulf stream. It originates in the Gulf of Mexico and follows the North American East coast before crossing the Atlantic Ocean as the North Atlantic Current.
I was wondering the same. And is the temperature there the base temp without windchill?
So tell me, when Russians visit Canada in winter...do they feel at home? :)
A lot of these were breathtaking!
I would like to visit someday. I'll probably freeze to death.
So...yeah, Russia is cold, and only the brave/don't give a F**** people survive there. Just know you can eat bears, just probably not the liver
Ignore Aunt Messy. Pretty sure she's bipolar and has been sending people really mean comments for years on BP.
Well, that was bitchy.
wait... what? everyone, I'm sorry but my comment wasn't meant as "bitchy" I'm not really that type. It was more like liking the toughness of those who live there. "the brave" people, "the don't give a f***" people, are those who have that grit in them, and adaptability. seriously sorry if it read any other way.
Correct title is "Novosibirsk"
#2 is pretty self explanatory. here in western Europe when i go running under zero, i feel the cold. but i'm lightly dressed
Below -40C, exposed skin will freeze in about two minutes. You would not be dressed lightly there. However, there are always a couple of yahoos who will run outside in shorts for a millisecond.
I will reread this post in summer to cool down a bit.
I get it's beautiful...what I don't get is how humans can survive that. Who would want to live in that kind of weather. - degrees?? that's just crazy
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One place where global warming would be welcome.
Wow. Just wow.
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Why does anyone live here
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... and imagine millions of innocent people forced labouring 17 hours a day in these conditions... This is communism!
it's not!
mollison yes
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Would you like to play a game? NOT SPAM! go to the buzzfeed post 16 british things that happened in 2020 that were good. look for the comment made by podgypigeon. there will be your next instruction
Why is Cip IESAN's comment being down-voted? Too political?
Because it's spam. If you go follow the instructions, you will find a ripoff artist that wants your credit card number, a pyramid scam, or a virus that will destroy your computer.