Another extreme cold day in Etanbetsu, Hokkaido: -36oC

Etanbetsu, Hokkaido, on the coldest day of winter 2020.

The village of Etanbetsu in Asahikawa, Hokkaido Prefecture, lives a week in the most extreme temperatures of the Japanese winter. At 9 a.m. on Sunday, the thermometer dropped to -36oC.

Three days ago Etanbetsu had endured another extreme temperature of -31.6oC.

The Japan Meteorological Agency attributed the intense cold to "radiative cooling" (Hosha Reikyaku), a phenomenon that causes heat loss from the earth's surface due to intense thermal radiation from the atmosphere.

At dawn, very low temperatures were also experienced in the cities of Waka -34.5, Rikubetsu -30.7, Sapporo -14, which is about 8 degrees lower than normal, and very cold, the lowest of winter, at 125 out of 173 observation points.

The Agency called on the population to beware of water freezing and outdoor activities.

HOW IT'S LIVING AT -36 GRADES

NHK reported that in Etanbetsu a haze emerges from the surface of the river of the same name that crosses the city can be seen from various parts of the city. The phenomenon occurs when the water temperature of the river is higher than the atmosphere that covers it.

A 50-year-old woman arrived in Asahikawa city to do an experiment with -36oC ambient temperature. "I tried wetting a denim and it froze quickly," he said.

The neighbors of the village of Etanbetsu, accustomed to the cold, confessed that at -36oC is different. "I live in the cold all the time, but now it's tingling my face and it's been hard to start the car," said a 30-year-old man.

Another person from the city of Kushiro, where the cold reached -30oC said that at this temperature "I have felt pain in the nostrils when inhaling."

FLIGHT CANCELLATION

Meanwhile, several flights were cancelled at New Chitose Airport due to the cold that dropped to -20.9oC.

According to ANA, the scheduled flight at 7.30am from New Chitose was cancelled due to the freezing of drinking water supply facilities and drainage. (Super Tokyo Radio)