New Zealand Local Weather Forum
Weather Discussion => International => Topic started by: Mark on May 26, 2023, 07:52:57 PM
-
Mongolia endured a brutal and deadly winter of 2022-23 which led to mass livestock losses and the suffering of 212,000 people, according to Save the Children. Now, even in late-spring, deadly blizzards are continuing to buffet the country.
Currently, 13 of Mongolia’s 21 provinces are experiencing a ‘dzud’ — a natural phenomenon unique to Mongolia, where heavy snow and extreme cold result in insufficient grazing pastures for livestock. Between 1940 and 2015, official “dzud declarations” where made twice a decade. But in recent years, dzud’s have increased in frequency, with occurrences now happening annually.
https://electroverse.info/deadly-snow-storms-sweep-mongolia-heavy-snow-traps-thousands-in-argentina/
-
As occurred last year, cold and snow is disrupting the seasonal migration of herders across the likes of northern China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
Last November, the coldest temperatures since the 1980s killed herders in NW China’s Xinjiang region. Hundreds of cattle and sheep also froze to death as blizzards and temperatures down to a record-breaking -48.6C (-55.5F) descended from the north.
The sheep of the Kazakh herdsmen in Xinjiang all froze to death.The Xinjiang authorities systematically bankrupted Kazakh herders and forced them to abandon the grasslands, depriving the Kazakhs of the grasslands. pic.twitter.com/9PyF4NVZyv
— Serikzhan Bilash (@SerikzhanBilash) November 24, 2022
This season is playing out similarly.
On Monday (Nov 6), at least eight herders were killed in central Mongolia due to fierce, early-season blizzards, the country’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said.
Icy roads and poor visibility have also led to disruptions.
Snow and blizzards swept the western provinces of Zavkhan and Uvs, and also the central parts of the country including the national capital Ulaanbaatar as well as the provinces of Arkhangai, Uvurkhangai, Tuv and Bulgan, reports news.mn.
Snow even pounded the southern provinces of Dundgovi and Dornogovi, as well as the eastern provinces of Khentii and Sukhbaatar, and the northern provinces of Khuvsgul and Darkhan-Uul.
Looking ahead, dangerous conditions are forecast to persist for the remainder of the week.
NEMA has warned the public, particularly nomadic herders, to take extra precautions.
https://electroverse.info/snowstorms-mongolia-record-snow-china-anchorage-record-snow-antarctica-has-cooled/
-
Mongolia's Largest Snowfall Since 1975
This winter has delivered the large East Asian nation of Mongolia its heaviest snowfall since 1975, so say the Mongolian government in a recent press release.
Severe freezes and blizzards have resulted in the deaths of some 668,000 livestock.
In response, authorities have initiated disaster relief efforts, providing essential aid—such as food, fuel, and livestock feed—to the affected areas starting February 19.
Earlier in the month, the United Nations warned that the ongoing “white and iron” dzud had reached a “critical” level, with over 90% of Mongolia facing high levels of risk from the unique phenomenon.
Mongolia’s winters have been intensifying in recent years. Between 1940 and 2015, official dzud declarations were made twice a decade; in recent years, dzuds have increased in frequency with occurrences now happening annually.
The UN describes dzuds as "a peculiar slow-onset disaster unique to Mongolia ... extreme winters characterized by freezing temperatures, heavy snow and ground so frozen that animals cannot reach pasture — and they’re an increasing phenomenon."
Last winter (2022-23) also saw herder families endure unprecedented levels of misery including severe food shortages, warned Save the Children at the time.
Even into May 2023, so well into spring, some 13 of Mongolia’s 21 provinces were still suffering a dzud.
For more:
https://electroverse.substack.com/p/mongolias-largest-snowfall-since