Part 2/8:
The first whispers of trouble reached the ears of Soviet citizens early in December when a peculiar lack of snow began to emerge. In a nation where snow was more than a winter aesthetic but a crucial protector of agriculture, the absence of it was alarming. However, this unusual weather was merely the prelude to an even more dire situation that would culminate on December 27, 1978, as the nation prepared for New Year's celebrations.
In a matter of hours, the temperatures began their descent into the grotesque. Regions that historically never fell below -31°C plummeted to staggering lows: -47°C in Kazan, -50°C in Vladivostok, and an alarming -52°C reported in several cities. The dramatic temperature drop sent shockwaves through the communal fabric of Soviet life.