“Mongolia is seeing an early advent of winter, with temperatures dropping to -5 °C (23 °F) and snowfall reaching 7 cm (3 inches) in northern, western, and central provinces such as Khuvsgul and Zavkhan,” Watchers News reports.
Normally in there isn’t much precipitation in Mongolia in September and temperatures, although chilly, normally range between 17℃ (62.6℉) as the daily high and 4℃ (39.2℉) for the lows. Below freezing temperatures and precipitation is outside the norm.
The cold and snow were the result of a sudden shift in weather patterns, that resulted in the normal transition from summer to fall and then into winter being skipped, as a high-pressure system settled above a large part of Mongolia, delivering early sub-zero temperatures and snow.
Widespread snow began falling on September 18, accompanied by a sharp drop in temperatures, with continued snow on September 19. Measurable snowfall was reported in Mongolia’s northern provinces of Bulgan, Darkhan-Uul, Khuvsgul, Orkhon, and Selenge, as well as in the western and central provinces of Arkhangai, Khovd, Tuv and Zavkhan. The cold temperatures lasted the entire weekend, with the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring warning winter-like conditions could linger for the foreseeable future.
The early arrival of winter caught many of Mongolia’s shepherds and herders off guard and it is unclear at present whether Mongolia’s crops, vegetable stores, and livestock will end up being harmed by the early arrival of sub-zero temperatures and snow.