PyeongChang to be coldest Winter Olympics site since Norway in 1994

People from around the world will gather in PyeongChang, South Korea, from Feb. 9 through Feb. 25 for twenty-third Olympic Winter Games in what may be the coldest host city in years.

The site of PyeongChang is one of the coldest location on Earth based on its latitude, and it may feel even colder when compared to the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia, which were the warmest Winter Olympics in history.

The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver were also abnormally warm. Temperatures at Whistler, the ski resort town where many events were held, averaged 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.

Organizers in PyeongChang have been preparing to deal with the harsh cold, especially at the open-air PyeongChang Olympic Stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held.

Despite the cold, February does not typically bring a high threat of snow in PyeongChang, although some snow is still possible during the games.

The weather has had far-reaching impacts on the Winter Olympics in the past, affecting snow and ice conditions and causing events to be postponed.

Thumbnail Image: Ski Jump Center PyeongChang, South Korea.(Andrew Jong/Getty Images)

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