A remarkable 81.1°C temperature difference was recorded across Russia on Monday, February 17, 2026, highlighting the country’s vast and varied climate.
The weather station in Delyankir, in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), registered a frigid -54.2°C ( -65.6°F) on Monday morning. Simultaneously, the city of Nazran, in Ingushetia, reached a surprisingly warm 26.9°C (80.4°F) that same afternoon.
While significant temperature variations are common in Russia due to its immense size, a difference of 80°C within a single day is unusual.
Typically, the largest temperature contrasts within Russia occur during winter, when temperatures in Siberia plummet to as low as -60°C. Conversely, areas between the Black and Caspian Seas often experience temperatures above freezing during the same period.
The recent extreme difference was driven by specific atmospheric conditions. Cold Arctic air settled over eastern Siberia, while unusually warm air from the south flowed into the region between the Black and Caspian Seas, pushing temperatures above 20°C.
Exceptionally warm air has persisted across the Caucasus region, former Soviet republics, and even central Siberia in recent days. Some locations have seen temperatures 20°C higher than normal, leading to record-breaking warmth. In Nazran, the typical February high is around 4°C.
Temperatures exceeding 25°C were also reported at other stations in Russia’s Caucasus region, and temperatures above 24°C were recorded at altitudes exceeding 1,000 meters.
Armenia recorded 23°C, breaking the country’s February record. A February record also fell in Turkmenistan, where the temperature reached 30.7°C.
