science.nasa.gov
Unusually early stratospheric warming disrupted the polar vortex in late 2025, sending frigid air into mid-latitudes. This fueled severe winter weather across North America, Europe, and Asia, culminating in a massive snowfall event on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in January 2026. Receiving over 2 meters (7 feet) of snow in two weeks—following a heavy December—the region experienced its snowiest period in decades. The deluge buried the capital city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, causing standstills and infrastructure damage. NASA imagery from January 17, 2026, captures the fresh blanket of snow across the peninsula’s rugged volcanic terrain.
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