January 2016 East Asia cold wave

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January 2016 East Asia cold wave
Formed22 January 2016 (2016-01-22)
Dissipated24 January 2016 (2016-01-24)
Lowest temperature−46.8 °C (−52.2 °F) across Inner Mongolia, −18 °C (0 °F) in Seoul
FatalitiesAt least 90 deaths
Areas affectedMuch of East Asia

In late-January 2016, a cold wave impacted much of East Asia, bringing record cold temperatures and snowfall to many regions. Many regions saw their coldest temperatures in decades, while sleet was reported in Okinawa for the first time on record. Snowfall and frigid weather stranded thousands of people across four countries. At least 85 people in Taiwan died from hypothermia and cardiac arrest following a sudden drop in temperature during the weekend of January 22–24. The cold claimed four lives in China. In addition, snowstorms resulted in six deaths across Japan.

Hong Kong

Temperatures in Hong Kong fell to 3.1 °C (37.6 °F),[1] the coldest in nearly 60 years.[2] Hundreds had hiked up Tai Mo Shan for sightseeing, where temperatures fell to −6 °C (21 °F); many required rescue and at least 64 were hospitalised for signs of hypothermia.[1]

Japan

Snowstorms across Japan killed six people and injured 100 others.[3] More than 600 flights were disrupted across the nation. Okinawa observed sleet for the first time since reliable records began.[2] Amami Ōshima saw snow for the first time in 115 years. Record snowfall blanketed portions of the mainland, with Nagasaki observing 17 cm (6.7 in).[1] The heaviest snow fell across the northern island of Hokkaido, with 142 cm (56 in) observed in Kitahiroshima. On Honshu, the main island of Japan, accumulations reached 59 cm (23 in) in Suzu, Ishikawa. Temperatures fell to record lows across much of western Japan.[4]

Mainland China

Nanjing–Tongling Railway after the snowfall in Tongling.

Snow was reported in parts of Guangzhou—the first observance of such since 1967[3]— Shenzhen, and Hangzhou a rare occurrence for the region.[2] At least four people died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a heating system in Guangzhou. Farther north, temperatures in Shanghai fell to −4 °C (25 °F), with light snow falling on the morning of January 23.[3] Twenty-four weather stations observed all-time record lows. Temperatures across Inner Mongolia fell to a record low of −46.8 °C (−52.2 °F).[5]

South Korea

Snow and cold weather forced the cancellation of 1,200 flights from taking flight from Jejudo, off the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula, stranding approximately 90,300 passengers.[1] Temperatures in Seoul fell to −18 °C (0 °F),[3] the lowest in 15 years.[1] Multiple cities across the country broke all-time low records, especially in Jejudo, where Seogwipo and Seongsan recorded the lowest temperatures on record, at −6.4 °C (20.5 °F) and −6.2 °C (20.8 °F), respectively.[citation needed]

Taiwan

Snowfall on Datun Mountain in Yangmingshan

A surge of cold air during the weekend of January 22–24 brought temperatures as low as 4 °C (39 °F) to Taipei, the lowest temperatures in 44 years.[2] Yangmingshan, the Matsu Islands, and Kinmen, observed their coldest temperatures on record at −1.3 °C (29.7 °F), 0.3 °C (32.5 °F), and 1.3 °C (34.3 °F), respectively.[6] Many homes across Taiwan are devoid of central heating, and residents were unable to cope with the temperatures. Overall, at least 85 people died from hypothermia and cardiac arrest in Taiwan, including 66 people in Taipei and Taoyuan, and another 16 in Kaohsiung. The majority of victims died in their homes.[2] Snow accumulated to 8.9 cm (3.5 in) on Jade Mountain.[3]

The cold weather caused severe damage to crops, with losses exceeding NT$20 million (US$600,000). President Ma Ying-jeou declared the crop damage a national concern.[6]

Elsewhere

Temperatures in Bangkok, Thailand, fell to 16 °C (61 °F) and Hanoi, Vietnam, recorded 6 °C (43 °F)—the coldest weather in the city in over 20 years.[2] Snow fell across some of the mountains of Northern Vietnam.[5] Cambodia was also affected by the sudden wave of cold air, causing some parts of the country to drop to 12 °C (54 °F).[citation needed] In most of the regions in North Korea, the temperature fell under −10 °C (14 °F), the lowest temperature in Pyongyang was −16.9 °C (1.6 °F).[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Tiffany Ap (January 25, 2016). "Deaths, travel disruption as bitter cold grips Asia". CNN. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "East Asia cold snap 'kills 85 in Taiwan'". BBC. January 25, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e Adam Withnall (January 25, 2016). "Asia cold snap: Scores dead as freezing 'polar vortex' sweeps across eastern Asia". The Independent. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  4. ^ "Heavy snow clobbers central, western Japan". The Japan Times. Jiji Press, Kyodo News. January 24, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Oliver Holmes (January 25, 2016). "Deaths in Japan and Taiwan as record cold snap hits east Asia". The Guardian. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Cold decimates crops, fish farms". The China Post. Taipei, Taiwan. January 26, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  7. ^ news.ifeng.com/a/20160121/47169157_0.shtml
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