The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea may break records for cold temperatures, with average February temperatures around 0 degrees Celsius during the day and around -10 degrees Celsius at night. The city is located in one of the coldest regions of South Korea and is the coldest place on Earth for its latitude. Athletes and spectators should expect Siberian winds and icy conditions, with major snowstorms being rare. More than 250 snow guns will be used to make up for the lack of snow.
The 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway have the dubious distinction of being the coldest Olympics on record, with temperatures dropping to -11 degrees Celsius (12.2 degrees Fahrenheit) during those games. However, the Korean Meteorological Administration says that average February temperatures in Pyeongchang typically hover around 0 degrees Celsius during the day and around -10 degrees Celsius at night. The city is located in one of the coldest regions of South Korea and is the coldest place on Earth for its latitude, so records could be broken.
Looking for gold in the cold:
Athletes and spectators should expect Siberian winds to blow through the Olympic venues in the Taebaek Mountains, which are about 50 miles (80.5km) from the border with North Korea.
Because it’s so cold, major snowstorms are a rarity, with an average February 2017 snowfall of about 2.5 inches (6.3 cm). More than 250 snow guns will make up for the problem.
Icy conditions are expected to make slalom and snowboarding events risky, leaving competitors looking for an edge to make turns. Ice is good, however, for downhill and super-G skiers.
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