Honestly, it’s one of those things you don't really think about until you're staring at your car's frost-covered windshield. Or, you know, when your breath starts turning into actual ice crystals the second you step outside.
Today, January 16, 2026, the world is a weirdly divided place when it comes to the mercury. While half the planet is worrying about the usual stuff, a few spots on the globe are hitting "bone-chilling" territory that makes a regular freezer look like a tropical resort.
The Bottom of the World
If we’re talking about the absolute coldest temperature recorded today, we have to look at the usual suspect: Antarctica. Specifically, Vostok Station.
As of right now, Vostok is sitting at a casual -40°F (-40°C).
It sounds fake, right? Like, -40 is the weird "crossover" point where Fahrenheit and Celsius finally agree that it's just too cold to exist. But Vostok isn't even the winner. Nearby, at the Dome A Aws station, the temperature has plummeted to -37°F, but with wind chills and extreme conditions making it feel significantly more lethal.
✨ Don't miss: Bret Baier: What Most People Get Wrong About the Fox News Anchor
Actually, the East Antarctic Plateau is a monster. NASA data shows that in specific hollows on that high ridge, temperatures can theoretically dip below -133°F on clear nights. We aren't seeing those record-shattering numbers today, mostly because it's technically "summer" down there. Yeah, -40°F is what they call a nice summer day.
The Inhabited Iceboxes
Most of us don't live in a research station on a giant ice sheet.
For the people who actually have to go to the grocery store and walk the dog, Oymyakon, Russia is currently winning the "I hate it here" prize. The forecast for Oymyakon today shows a low of -41°F (-40.5°C).
Think about that for a second.
At those temperatures, your eyelashes freeze.
If you try to throw a cup of boiling water into the air, it turns into a cloud of snow before it hits the ground. It’s a place where the ground is permanently frozen (permafrost) and people have to keep their car engines running 24/7 because if they stop, the oil turns into jelly and the car will never start again until spring.
What's Happening in the US and Beyond?
In the United States, we aren't seeing record-breaking global lows, but the Pacific Northwest is feeling the bite. Roseburg, Oregon, just tied a record for the lowest high temperature for January 15th, reaching only 36°F. That’s basically the "normal" high temperature for a place much further north.
Meanwhile, a massive cold front is currently barreling through North Texas. Forecasters are warning that this weekend will bring the coldest air of the winter so far.
Over in India, Delhi just woke up to its coldest morning of the season. The Safdarjung weather station recorded a minimum of 2.9°C (about 37°F). For a city that regularly sees 110°F in the summer, this is a massive shock to the system.
🔗 Read more: Quien va ganando las elecciones hoy 2024 en usa: Lo que los datos finales realmente dicen
Why These Numbers Matter
It’s easy to dismiss these stats as just trivia. But these "lows" drive global weather patterns. When the Arctic or Antarctic air gets displaced—something meteorologists call a polar vortex disruption—that cold air has to go somewhere.
Usually, it ends up in your backyard.
- Check your pipes: If you’re in the path of the Texas cold front, now is the time to drip those faucets.
- Battery health: Cold kills car batteries. If yours is more than three years old, a -40°F night (or even a 20°F night) might be its last.
- Animal safety: If it’s too cold for you, it’s definitely too cold for the dog. Bring them in.
The world is a big, freezing place today. Whether you're in the -41°F depths of Siberia or just dealing with a surprisingly chilly morning in Delhi, the coldest temperature recorded today is a reminder that nature doesn't really care about our central heating.
Check your local forecasts as the sun goes down. Temperatures are expected to drop another 5-10 degrees in the next few hours across much of the Northern Hemisphere as the night sets in.