The recent extreme-cold temperature many Asian countries are experiencing this month is similar to what happened in the United States last month. Scientists term this phenomenon as Polar Vortex. It refers to the cold air originating from the Arctic moving south from the North Pole.
Despite the fact that the phenomenon happens naturally, according to scientists the cold-air movements are likely to become more regular due to global warming. This month, Central Asia is facing cold as the polar vortex brought arctic air from up north before moving itself towards the east.
The cold wave has been particularly harsh on the people of Afghanistan too as the country suffered a whopping 162 casualties since Jan 10. The country’s minister said, nearly half of these fatalities happened in just one week. On Wednesday, a Cabinet secretary reported that at least 3 fatalities in Japan were connected to the cold weather. The snowfall has caused certain flights and bullet trains to be delayed or cancelled.
Last week, North Korea’s meteorological agency alerted local citizens about the “most intense cold snap in 23 years”. Temperatures are expected to be much colder than usual, so it is important to take all necessary precautions. In South Korea, hundreds of flights had to be cancelled and the beaches were coated in a blanket of ice. On Monday night, downtown Beijing was hit by gusts of wind and the temperature dropped to a freezing -25°C. The winds persisted through the night but had settled by midday Tuesday, leaving behind peace and clear skies.