Known as the coldest city in the world, one resident shared how locals manage as temperatures drop to a bone-chilling -45 degrees Celsius this week
11:33, 17 Dec 2025Updated 11:36, 17 Dec 2025
Locals say the weather is bearable if there is no wind (Image: Getty)
Temperatures in Yakutsk, Siberia have plummeted to a staggering -45 degrees Celsius this week. The world’s coldest city, nestled in eastern Siberia, Russia, presents challenging living conditions, yet residents have mastered the art of survival.
On Monday, as weather dropped to -45, locals were spotted going about their daily business surrounded by frozen cars and icy pavements.
The bitter cold is also said to have forced schools to shut their doors for the week, with students instead logging on for remote lessons.
Situated on the Lena River, roughly 450km south of the Arctic Circle, Yakutsk routinely endures some of the planet’s most extreme winter temperatures, underlining just how brutal Siberia’s climate can be.
The city’s estimated 300,000 inhabitants manage the harsh conditions through thick layered clothing and frequent cups of steaming tea.
Locals insist the cold is tolerable provided there’s no biting wind to make things worse during the winter months.
The eastern Siberia city can be challenging to live in, though locals have learned to adapt(Image: Getty)
At the markets, fridges are also redundant for fish or meat, which freeze within moments.
Indoor cooking carries on as usual though, with typical dishes including hearty meat soups, stews, dumplings, porridge and bread.
Kiun B, a Yakutsk native, warns “you can easily freeze in minutes” without wearing proper attire.
In a clip on her YouTube channel, she walks viewers through the multiple layers she dons simply to pop to the shops.
Starting with her lower half, she explained: “I start with leggings. I already have my black ones on and on top of them I add a second pair.
“Then I put on camel wool knee pads to protect my joints. My knees sometimes hurt because I didn’t wear this when I was younger, so now it’s essential.
“I also wear camel wool socks for insulation and warmth,” she continued.
Kiun then added insulated padded trousers to keep her legs “incredibly warm”.
Temperatures dropped to a extremely cold -45 degrees Celsius on Monday(Image: Getty)
For her upper body, the resident dons a jumper, layered with a lightweight jacket beneath her heavy-duty winter coat “made especially for Arctic winters”.
To maximise warmth, she topped it off with a woolly hat, scarf and mittens, completed by “yakutian fur boots”.
“Regular boots would freeze in minutes,” she cautioned.
Kiun then offered followers a glimpse into life outdoors in Yakutsk, confessing: “When you step outside, the cold air hits your lungs like a shock.
“It becomes harder to breathe, your throat feels dry and every breath feels heavy because of the freezing air.”
She continued: “In Yakutsk, our entire infrastructure is built for extreme cold; roads, buildings and utilities are designed to survive temperatures below -70 degrees Celsius. Most apartments have 24/7 central heating just to stay warm.”