Finland and Sweden Hit Record -40°C, Sending Chills Across Nordic Region

If you thought the winter chill in Delhi was bone-chilling, brace yourself for the sub-zero extremes gripping Finland and Sweden. The Nordic region is currently in the icy embrace of a historic cold wave, with temperatures plummeting to a frigid minus 40 degrees Celsius. Both countries are experiencing some of the coldest temperatures of the winter, creating a frosty spectacle that has disrupted daily life and transportation networks.

Sweden recently endured its coldest January night in a quarter of a century, with the mercury plummeting to a staggering minus 43.6 degrees Celsius. This extreme cold spell isn't exclusive to Sweden; its neighbor Finland is equally in the grip of this icy phenomenon. The bone-chilling conditions have wreaked havoc on transportation networks, with Norway closing a major highway in the south and suspending ferry services due to the harsh weather. In Sweden, rail traffic in the Arctic north faced substantial disruptions.

Nikkaluokta, a tiny Nordic hamlet inhabited by the indigenous Sami people, recorded an exceptionally low temperature of minus 41.6 degrees Celsius. SVT meteorologist Nils Holmqvist noted, "This is the lowest temperature we have experienced this winter, and the cold weather is expected to persist in the northern regions."

The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute issued warnings for snow and wind in central and southern parts of the country, with temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius in several northern locations. The second-highest warning level was in effect, highlighting the severity of the cold wave.

In Finland, the northwestern town of Ylivieska recorded the coldest temperature of the winter at minus 37.8 degrees Celsius. Forecasters predict that certain parts of the country will continue to experience temperatures below minus 40 degrees Celsius throughout the week. Even the Finnish capital, Helsinki, is bracing for temperatures ranging between minus 15 and minus 20 degrees Celsius.

As the cold wave tightens its grip, the southern Norwegian town of Arendal had to close schools due to the inability to clear sidewalks in time for children to travel safely. Ferry companies across the region canceled crossings, including those from southern Norway to Denmark, where a key bridge was closed to light trailers due to strong winds.

The bone-chilling temperatures in Finland and Sweden are not just setting records; they are reshaping daily life and testing the resilience of these Nordic nations in the face of an unprecedented freeze.