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While in Egypt and Israel there is snow, in one of the coldest regions in Russia the temperature is higher than ever for this period.
It is famous for being one of the coldest, most inhospitable places on earth.
But after weeks of the warmest winter weather in living memory there's something peculiarly absent in many parts of Siberia this December - snow.
But after weeks of the warmest winter weather in living memory there's something peculiarly absent in many parts of Siberia this December - snow.
At this time of year the harsh east Russian region is normally covered in a thick layer of the white stuff with temperatures plummeting to as low as -40C.
But in recent weeks many areas have seen daytime temperatures hovering well above zero and even more unusually long spells of heavy rain.
While Siberia remains slightly colder than western Europe, most locals say they have never experienced a December so warm.
Fyodor Olifirenko, 83, from Novosibirsk, the most northerly city in the world, told the Siberian Times: 'I do not remember such a warm December.
'In 1963 there was some thaw on December 24-25, it was raining a bit. But by morning all was frozen and after that started strong frosts.'
Fyodor Olifirenko, 83, from Novosibirsk, the most northerly city in the world, told the Siberian Times: 'I do not remember such a warm December.
'In 1963 there was some thaw on December 24-25, it was raining a bit. But by morning all was frozen and after that started strong frosts.'
'But such weather - when it is constantly raining in the middle of December - I see this for the first time'.
In the city of Tomsk, where it normally averages around -15C at this time of year, the forecast next week predicts long spells of sunshine and relatively balmy temperatures of between -1C and -5C.
By comparison, the average December day time temperature in London is only slightly higher at around 6C.
In the city of Tomsk, where it normally averages around -15C at this time of year, the forecast next week predicts long spells of sunshine and relatively balmy temperatures of between -1C and -5C.
By comparison, the average December day time temperature in London is only slightly higher at around 6C.
A group of Tomsk locals made the most of the sunshine by stripping down to their swimming gear to pose for pictures.
Elsewhere in Siberia it's a similar story. In Krasnoyarsk, where December temperatures normally fall to between -23°C to -17°C, often hitting as low as -35°C there is barely any snow to be found at all.
And in the city of Barnaul, where at this time of year you normally find people fishing through thick ice of the Rive Ob, it has been feeling more like Spring with blue skies and ducks swimming around.
And in the city of Barnaul, where at this time of year you normally find people fishing through thick ice of the Rive Ob, it has been feeling more like Spring with blue skies and ducks swimming around.
The unusually high Siberian temperatures are the latest in a long line of strange weather events this year including hail falling in Cairo and snow falling in Israel, Syria and Jordan.
Last month was the warmest November on record worldwide since records began in 1880.
Last month was the warmest November on record worldwide since records began in 1880.
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