Siberian High

The Siberian High is a massive collection of cold or very cold dry air that accumulates on the Eurasian terrain for much of the year. It reaches its greatest size and strength in the winter, when the air temperature near the center of the high-pressure cell or anticyclone is often lower than minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit). The sea-level pressure (atmospheric pressure) is often above 1040 millibars (1040 hectopascals) (hPa) (SI). The Siberian High is the strongest semipermanent high in the northern hemisphere and is responsible for both the lowest temperature in the Northern Hemisphere, of on January 15, 1885 at Verkhoyansk and the highest pressure, 1083.8 mb (108.38 kPa, 32.01 inHg) at Agata, Siberia on December 31, 1968.

The Siberian High affects the weather patterns in the higher latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. It may block or reduce the size of low-pressure cells or cyclones and generate dry weather across much of the Eurasian and Canadian landscape.

See also

• Siberian Express
• Cold wave

References