Meteorologists warn Irkutsk of another deep freeze this week

We barely had time to enjoy the unseasonably warm winter weather when a cold front is again approaching Irkutsk Oblast, bringing frost with it. However, meteorologists assure that this time, it won«t be as severe as during Epiphany. The forecast was shared with an IrCity journalist by Yulia Yankova, head of the Irkutsk Hydrometeorological Center.

«Today, the cold front has already started to move in. Therefore, for the next 24 hours, the night temperature in Irkutsk will be -22…-20°C (-8…-4°F), with light snow falling. Tomorrow during the day — down to -16…-14°C (3…7°F),» Yankova said.

On February 4, the arctic cold will firmly reach Irkutsk, so on Wednesday morning and afternoon, there will be light snow. At night, the temperature will drop to -30…-28°C (-22…-18°F), and during the day, from -20 to -22°C (-4…-8°F).

By Thursday, precipitation will stop in Irkutsk, and the temperature will drop even further. On the night and morning of February 5, temperatures are expected to reach -33…-32°C (-27…-26°F), and during the day, the same -22…-20°C (-8…-4°F).

«For now, everything indicates that this cold won»t linger for long. It turns out that today our temperature is 4–8 degrees above normal, but on February 4 and 5, across the entire oblast, it will be 2–7 degrees colder than usual. However, by the 6th, there is a prospect that the cold will shift, so in the western districts, temperatures will return to normal,« said Yulia Yankova.

In most districts of Irkutsk Oblast, on February 3, temperatures are expected to drop to -35…-30°C (-31…-22°F) at night, in some places — to -25…-20°C (-13…-4°F) in certain districts. During the day — from -13 to -18°C (9…0°F), in some places down to -24…-19°C (-11…-2°F). Meanwhile, in the northern and Upper Lena districts, as early as Tuesday, daytime temperatures could cool to -32°C (-26°F).

On February 4, the overall temperature background across the oblast is low — down to -38…-33°C (-36…-27°F) at night, and where snow falls, slightly warmer — down to -32…-27°C (-26…-17°F). In the north and Upper Lena districts — down to -46…-41°C (-51…-42°F). Approximately the same temperatures are expected on Thursday, February 5.