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Heat Wave Shatters Record in Siberian Town

VOA News

   One of the coldest places on Earthon Saturdaybecame one of the hottest
   places on Earth.

   A Russian heat wave sent thethermometerin the SiberiantownofVerkhoyansk
   soaring to 38 degreesCelsius(104 Fahrenheit).Meteorologistssay
   thatwouldbe the highest temperature ever recorded north of
   theArcticCircle.

   Verkhoyansk isabout10kilometersnorthof the Arctic Circle.

   Temperatures in the townaverage40 degrees below zero Celsius(-40
   Fahrenheit)in winter, and it rarely gets warmer than 20 degrees(68
   Fahrenheit)insummer.

   Experts blame the unusual heatwave on a massive high-pressuresystemthat
   has been stalled over Siberia for almost two weeks, preventing cooler
   air from flowing south.

   All of Russia hasexperiencedanuncharacteristicallywarm winter
   andspringthis yearwith average temperaturesbreaking recordsinthe first
   fivemonthsof the year set in 2016.

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