Arctic cold to last another two weeks

Arctic temperatures are expected to last for another two weeks, or until around February 20, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has announced. In South Bohemia meteorologists measured -39.4° Celsius on Monday morning, the lowest temperature this year, on par with the average January temperature in the interior of Greenland. The deep freeze has affected railway operation in particular, with freezing diesel oil and cracked rails reported. The frost wave has claimed 17 lives in the country in the past week, namely homeless people; a number of towns have erected special shelters for the homeless and are providing additional services.