While record warmth affects some, record cold affects others through the first half of January 2024.

Scandinavia got in on the act first with some remarkably low temperatures unseen for many years. The cold began in October and was building through November and December. 2024 likely got off to the coldest open to a new year for about 25 years. There was 5-7 consecutive days which saw several stations dip below -40C.

The village of Vittangi in Swedish Lapland dipped to a low of -44.6C on January 5th. This value is Sweden and Scandinavia’s lowest recorded temperature since 1999.

The January 5th low at Vittangi surpasses Sweden’s previous coldest of this century which was -44.0° in Storbo in northernmost Dalarna on February 4, 2001.

In Kvikkjokk-Årrenjarka, Sweden a new all-time record low of -43.6C was achieved (records date back to 1901), surpassing the previous record of -43.0C set all the way back to 1918. The same station also recorded their coldest maximum of -42.3C. This was also Sweden’s 4th coldest maximum on record.

https://twitter.com/ThierryGooseBC/status/1743460696250339562

Possibly even more impressive was the rise in temperature in just 4 days!

Nikkaluokta, Sweden went from -42.9C on the 4th to +8.3C on the 9th!

There was even colder unofficial readings!

 

https://twitter.com/VaerTorsten/status/1745042517211390060

Following The WARMEST December On Record… Alberta Records First -50C In January In 20 Years

Possibly one of the biggest December to January flips in Canadian history…

https://twitter.com/ThierryGooseBC/status/1741899680014107084

Scandinavia handed the cold baton over to Canada…

https://twitter.com/ThierryGooseBC/status/1746592371939443073

https://twitter.com/ThierryGooseBC/status/1746371019928129704

https://twitter.com/ThierryGooseBC/status/1745830429620605381

Meanwhile in British Columbia, a low of -6.6C in typically balmier Downtown Victoria, BC was the coldest here since all the way back to January 25, 1972 when it hit -6.7C.

Record Tying 5 Consecutive Nights At Or Below -40C

Edmonton, AB recorded a quite remarkable 5 consecutive nights at or below -40C with 3 of those at or below -45C.

While there is 2 sites at Edmonton Intl Airport, the lowest readings was -45.9 and -46.6C respectively. These values rank 2nd and 3rd coldest on record. The first value was lowest since December 2009 when it hit -46.1. For the slightly colder of the two airport sites, the all-time record low is -48.3C set back in January 1972.

A maximum of -33.6C at the airport is likely the coldest in some 20 years. Many thanks to Thierry Goose for this information.

The city’s airport recorded it’s 3rd lowest temperature on record and also endured a wind chill as low as -59C at one point.

In Calgary, AB, the lowest temperature reached -36.2C and according to Meteorologist David Spence, this was the coldest night since 1997. Their maximum of -30.4C marked the city’s coldest since February 1, 1989 when it only warmed to -31.9C that day.

The extreme cold crossed the barbed wire fence!

The American cold king appears to go to Chester, MT where the low fell to an impressive -47.8C or -54F.

https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1746350212598403242

Other significant records fell in Montana.

https://twitter.com/wxbywilliams/status/1746174925667246342

https://twitter.com/bsteffen/status/1746171463705506200

The arctic air has spread south and east…

You just know when extreme cold is driving south on both sides of the Atlantic, it’s WARM in between!

https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1744776915146387506