Beijing experienced its coldest December since records began in 1951, after a cold wave hit much of China. Temperatures fell below -10C, alongside heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions. Northern and north-eastern parts of the country experienced the coldest temperatures, as icy air moved south from the Arctic, with some areas plunging to -40C.
The Beijing weather observatory recorded a period of more than 300 hours in which temperatures remained below freezing, which is the longest for December since records began 72 years ago. The cold snap forced the closure of many schools and businesses in the Chinese capital, owing to travel disruption and the stress from added heating demands. Temperatures have risen into the new year but Beijing remains cold, with maximum temperatures reaching just above freezing so far.
It has also been extremely cold across Scandinavia this week, with temperatures plummeting to -40C in places. The Kvikkjokk-Arrenjarka weather station in the far north of Sweden recorded -43.6C during the early hours of Wednesday, making this the coldest January temperature Sweden has experienced since a record of -49C was set in 1999. Snowstorms have disrupted travel in parts of Scandinavia, most notably in southern Sweden, where the occupants of about 1,000 vehicles had to be rescued on Wednesday night after becoming trapped by heavy snowfall.
Meanwhile, the first day of 2024 ushered in the first cyclone of the year, as Tropical Storm Alvaro made landfall on the west coast of southern Madagascar.
Initially developing off the coast of Mozambique during the final days of December, Alvaro strengthened to a Severe Tropical Storm as it moved eastwards across the Mozambique Channel. Though initially bringing gusts of about 85mph to the west of Madagascar, Alvaro quickly weakened as it moved eastwards across the island, thanks in part to the more mountainous geography of the east.
Heavy rain was widespread across much of southern Madagascar, with more than 100mm of rainfall in places, resulting in significant flooding. Eight houses and six schools are known to have been destroyed during the storm, alongside damage to power lines and communication infrastructure. Having passed across Madagascar, Alvaro briefly restrengthened to a Moderate Tropical Storm as it reached the Indian Ocean. However, an injection of dry air disturbed the structure of the cyclone and it weakened once again, with the remains of the storm now dissipating in the southern Indian Ocean.
