Lithuania Grapples with Record-Breaking Cold, Šeduva Records Lowest Temperature in Decades
Šeduva, a town in northern Lithuania, is experiencing some of the most severe cold in the country’s recent history. Temperatures plummeted to -34°C ( -29.2°F) overnight, marking the lowest recorded temperature in Lithuania this winter and approaching levels not seen in nearly three decades.
Residents of Šeduva are adapting to the frigid conditions, with many acknowledging the cold while expressing resilience. “It’s a little cool, but we’re getting through it,” one resident told local media. Another stated, “It could be a few degrees warmer,” while a third commented, “It’s unpleasant, it would be better if it were warmer, but we live with it as it is.”
The extreme cold was first noted over the weekend, with temperatures dropping to -21°C ( -5.8°F) in Šeduva. By Monday night, the temperature had fallen further, reaching -34°C. This reading makes Šeduva the coldest spot in Lithuania, according to forecasters.
However, the impact of the cold appears to be more pronounced on machinery than on people. Edita Mančiauskė, the elder of Šeduva, noted a decrease in the number of cars on the roads this week. “There are fewer cars and fewer people. Some people haven’t been able to start their cars. We saw cars parked on the side of the road – likely frozen, but quickly removed,” she explained.
Meteorologists attribute the particularly low temperatures in Šeduva to its geographical location. “The Šeduva station is located in open fields, with sandy soil, which causes the temperature to drop faster. There are no valleys there, so there is no accumulation of cold,” explained meteorologist Jan Vaitkevič.
Mančiauskė reported that the cold has not caused major problems in Šeduva, with no damage to pipelines or fires reported, despite residents increasing their use of heating overnight. “There were requests for firewood, as some residents were running low – they needed to burn more,” she said.
Residents echoed this sentiment, noting the increased need for fuel. “When it’s this cold, you need more fuel and have to burn more often,” one resident stated. Another added, “We made sure we had enough firewood, and we hope it will last.” A third resident explained, “Before, it was enough to heat in the evening, now you have to get up and heat at night. We have enough clothes, so we don’t freeze.”
Despite the harsh conditions, many residents of Šeduva appear unfazed. “There’s nothing special about it, strong people get used to it. We heat more often for comfort,” one resident said. Another commented, “When you have to, you go outside. You have to walk the dogs. We dress them warmly.” One resident even expressed enjoyment of the cold, stating, “When I found out that Šeduva was the coldest place, I went out into the snow. I’m not cold. I used to swim in the winter for many years, so I’m used to it.”
While the cold itself hasn’t presented insurmountable challenges, the accompanying snowfall has caused some disruption. Mančiauskė noted that the municipality struggled to keep up with clearing streets and removing snow. “We had blocked chimneys. Due to the layer of snow, smoke could no longer escape, so we had to clear the snow from the chimneys,” she explained.
Forecasters are predicting a warming trend, with temperatures expected to rise to between -1°C and 6°C (30.2°F and 42.8°F) on Tuesday. However, another cold snap is possible later in the week, with temperatures potentially dropping to -19°C to -24°C (-2.2°F to -11.2°F).
