Cold enough for you? Columbia temperatures below Moscow, Helsinki

COLUMBIA — Barring access to somewhere tropical, most folks would choose Columbia for winter warmth over the Rockies, northern Europe, Arctic or Antarctic climates. 

Thursday, they would have chosen poorly.

At 11 a.m. thermometers in Columbia registered a frigid 3 degrees, making the 21-degree reading at the McMurdo Research Station in Antarctica sound balmy. Both Moscows, Russia and Idaho, registered temperatures right around the freezing mark, and even Helsinki was 23 degrees.

The good news: While Barrow, Alaska, at 5 degrees, is only slightly warmer than Columbia, by Monday Columbia is anticipating a high of 40 degrees. Barrow temperatures are expected to remain in the minus 15 to 10 above range through the coming week.