Summary of climate disasters on the planet: February 19-25, 2025

Türkiye has experienced its most powerful snowfall in the last 50 years.

The USA has been hit by extreme cold for the eighth time this winter.

In Russia, north of the Arctic Circle, temperatures are above freezing, while in Sochi, palm trees and beaches are buried in snow

In Armenia, severe weather caused over a thousand traffic accidents in a single day.

Read on to learn more about these and other climate anomalies that occurred from February 19 to 25, 2025.

Russia

Temperature chaos across Russia continues to baffle experts. On the Kola Peninsula, north of the Arctic Circle, some areas experienced no frost even at night, and daytime temperatures rose to nearly +5°C (+41°F). On February 23, in Murmansk, the maximum temperature reached +4.5°C (+40.1°F), while the minimum was +1.9°C (+35.4°F).

In Murmansk, this winter was not only abnormally warm but also record-breakingly snowy—between November 2024 and February 2025, a total of 248 mm (9.76 in) of precipitation fell, setting a 90-year record. From February 1 to 24, 39 mm (1.5 in) of precipitation was recorded, which is 160% of the monthly norm.

In the Urals, on February 24, extreme temperature swings were recorded: in some settlements, daily fluctuations exceeded 23°C (41.4°F). For example, in Atymya, the temperature fluctuation reached 23.5°C (42.3°F); in Burmantovo, 24.5°C (44.1°F); and in Severouralsk, 25°C (45°F).

The most striking contrast occurred in Ivdel, Sverdlovsk Oblast. Overnight, the temperature plummeted to −26°C (−14.8°F), but by midday, it had risen to +2.4°C (+36.3°F)—a 28.4-degree shift in just 12 hours, a serious challenge for local residents.

Meanwhile, in the south of the country, starting February 17, abnormally cold weather and heavy snowfalls hit Stavropol Krai, Krasnodar Krai, North Ossetia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Ingushetia, and Chechnya.

The end of February in Kabardino-Balkaria became the coldest in recorded history for the region, with mountain temperatures dropping to −30°C (−22°F), more than 10°C (18°F) below the climatic norm.

In Mineralnye Vody, Stavropol Krai, on the night of February 21, the temperature was a relatively mild −12°C (10.4°F), but the next night, it dropped sharply to −24.8°C (−12.6°F)—a 14.7°C (26.5°F) deviation from the norm.

In Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, and other parts of Kuban, bodies of water froze over, and hummocks of broken ice formed due to the pressure of the ice cover. In some areas, sea ice was even pushed onto the streets.

Ice hummocks on the shore of the Black Sea near Anapa, Krasnodar Krai, Russia

The Azov coast was covered in a thick layer of ice due to strong winds and freezing temperatures.

Weather stations at mountain resorts in Kuban recorded record-breaking snowfall.

In Sochi, snow fell not only in the mountain regions, where snowdrifts reached 3 meters (9.8 feet), but also along the coastline. Green lawns, palm trees, and flowers were buried under a thick layer of snow, an extremely rare phenomenon for the region. Icy roads turned Sochi’s already challenging terrain into a real obstacle course. Buses didn’t drive—they slid, while some areas became accessible only on foot.

Record-breaking snowfall in Sochi, Russia

Georgia

The same severe weather hit neighboring Georgia. Due to heavy snowfall in the western part of the country, train services on February 22 and 23 were canceled for the Ozurgeti – Tbilisi, Batumi – Ozurgeti, and Rioni – Kutaisi – Rioni routes.

Near the Gudauri ski resort, cars were almost completely buried under snow.

In the Kakheti region, public transportation was suspended. Meanwhile, in Poti, around 6,000 consumers were left without electricity.

Because of the mild climate in the resort city of Batumi, where even in winter the average maximum temperature is around +10°C (+50°F), central heating is not installed in residential buildings. But this time, the cold was intense, and the city was buried in so much snow that municipal services couldn’t keep up—snow removal operations continued around the clock.

Resort city of Batumi covered in snow, Georgia

Armenia

On February 20, a heavy snowfall struck Armenia, causing a transportation collapse. In just one day, over 1,000 traffic accidents were recorded across the country.

According to Armenia's Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center, in the area of Mount Aragats, the snow depth reached 120 cm (3.9 ft).

The Mayor of Yerevan urged residents of the capital to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. Classes in schools and universities were canceled.

Traffic chaos due to heavy snowfall on the streets of Yerevan, Armenia

Cold Arctic air also swept into the Eastern Mediterranean. Meteorological services in Cyprus, Greece, and Israel named this weather event “Coral.”

Greece

In Greece, temperatures in the northern regions dropped below −10°C (14°F). The Polypotamos Waterfall, near the city of Florina, was completely frozen over, surprising even locals accustomed to harsh winter conditions. On February 20, the city recorded an astonishing −12°C (10.4°F), compared to the average minimum of −2°C (28.4°F).

On Rhodes, the cold snap caused flowers to freeze and become encased in a layer of ice.

The storm was accompanied by heavy snowfall, reaching even Attica. Due to the snow, transportation was suspended on Mount Parnitha.

On Euboea Island, snow buried mountain villages, forcing local authorities to deploy specialized equipment to clear the roads.

Unprecedented snowfall hits the island of Euboea, Greece

Türkiye

In Türkiye, residents faced the most intense snowfall in the last 50 years. It was accompanied by a sharp drop in temperatures across most of the country.

In Istanbul, transportation was severely disrupted—trucks were stranded on inclines, and the city saw at least 139 traffic accidents.

Transit through the Bosphorus Strait was suspended in both directions. Due to the extreme weather, thousands of tourists, including transit passengers, were left stranded in various airports around the world.

In some areas, up to 48 cm (18.9 in) of snow fell overnight.

In mountainous regions, snowdrifts reached 1 meter (3.3 feet), completely cutting off entire villages from the outside world.

A local resident tries to dig out a car from a massive snowdrift, Türkiye (Turkey)

By the end of the week, Arctic air pushed even further south, reaching Cyprus, Lebanon, and Israel.

Iraq

Residents of several cities in Anbar Province, Iraq, witnessed an extremely rare phenomenon for the region—an anomalous snowfall, accompanied by a sharp drop in temperature.

In the northern part of Kirkuk Province, snowfall was so heavy that, according to a local resident, such an event had not occurred in decades.

Unprecedented snowfall in Iraq

In some provinces, schools were closed, and working hours in government institutions were reduced.

Iran

In Iran, 25 out of 31 provinces were affected by heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures. These weather conditions worsened the ongoing energy crisis in the country. As a result, in the capital, Tehran, all schools, universities, and government institutions—except for medical and essential service centers—were closed due to frequent power and gas outages.

Aftermath of a heavy snowfall in Iran

USA

For the eighth time this winter, a powerful winter storm struck the United States, paralyzing life across dozens of states. Heavy snowfall caused chaos on roads and at airports, leading to the cancellation of nearly 4,000 flights nationwide.

On February 19, Virginia Beach, Virginia, recorded 31.8 cm (12.5 in) of snow.

In Oswego County, New York, where some areas received over 180 cm (5.9 ft) of snow in a single week, the weight of accumulated snow caused 26 buildings to collapse.

The Arctic cold and snowstorms led to more than 1,500 accidents and four fatalities.

Authorities urged people to stay indoors as extreme cold gripped large portions of the country.

On February 19, a historic record low was set in Edgemont, South Dakota, where temperatures plunged to −38.89°C (−38°F). In Hettinger County, North Dakota, temperatures dropped even further to −42°C (−43.6°F).

In Detroit, Michigan, cars froze solid in ice after a massive water main break.

Cars encased in ice on the street, Detroit, Michigan, USA

China

On February 20, after prolonged snowfalls, a massive avalanche descended on Meili Snow Mountain in Yunnan Province, China, near Yubeng Glacier Lake. 

Tourists who found themselves in its path managed to take shelter in wooden structures. According to the National Park, there were no casualties or destruction.

People filming the avalanche (left),
massive avalanche in the mountains (right), Yunnan Province, China

Along with event details, the news carried an important reminder: "Do not panic and do not stop to watch!" It seems obvious, yet when we observe how people behave during disasters, many questions arise.

Why do people risk their lives—and sometimes the lives of their children—just to capture a photo near lava or for the thrill of the moment? Where does the instinct for self-preservation go for those who film an avalanche or a landslide instead of running? Why, during an earthquake, do some save objects instead of themselves? Even in less life-threatening situations—like during a heavy snowfall, when it's safer to stay home—some feel an urgent need to go to the bakery… only to require rescue from the snowdrifts later—if help arrives in time.

Watching what is happening on our planet, we find ourselves asking again and again: Why have people stopped valuing life as the highest and most irreplaceable treasure? Truly, beyond the climate crisis, economic crisis, and all others, the greatest crisis of our time is the crisis of valuing life itself.

Think about the words of those who have faced deadly danger: “The most important thing is that I'm alive and my loved ones are with me.” When we recognize the value of our own lives, we begin to cherish the lives of others. Climate is giving us a chance to finally understand what truly matters.

The world is changing radically. Right now, we face a challenge that determines not only the future but the very survival of all people. Yes, this challenge is filled with uncertainties, but it can be solved.

Life is worth fighting for!

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