In the capital and Chui region, at the beginning of the month, temperatures ranged from +3 to +15 °C during the day (reaching +15…+16 °C on some days), while at night they dropped to -6…0 °C, occasionally rising to +1…+2 °C.
Rain and wet snow were observed at the beginning of January; however, for most of the time, the weather was dry and sunny. As of now (mid-January), the average daytime temperature is +8…+13 °C, creating a feeling of early spring.
At the same time, in the mountainous regions, the temperature is significantly lower: during the day, it ranged from -5 to +5 °C, while at night it dropped to -15…-27 °C. For instance, in the Ak-Tala district of the Naryn region, temperatures can reach -30…-35 degrees. In this regard, local authorities have decided to switch students to remote learning.
The Kyrgyz have a proverb: “The arrival of toxon is bad. The exit of childe is bad,” which refers to the so-called “toxons,” or the cold period that begins on December 11. In some years, the dates can shift by 3-7 days forward or backward, and during this time, it usually snows and there are severe frosts.
Traditionally, “toxons” lasts from December 13 to March 13, although some folk astronomers claim it continues from December 18 to March 18. During this period, the weather changes sharply, and the temperature drops. A week before the start of “toxons,” it becomes noticeably colder, which is reflected in the folk saying “Say hello to the frost, I will go myself to the one without boots.”
“Toxons” is divided into three phases:
- the first phase — from December 13 to January 8;
- the second phase — from January 8 to February 18;
- the third phase — from February 18 to March 13.
According to the wisdom of elders, the phrase “Toxons won’t leave, the frost won’t leave” emphasizes that the frosts will not go away until “toxons” is over. As soon as the “toxondogu chal” (which translates to 90-year-old elder) leaves, the temperature begins to rise, and in some areas, “sary kar” (yellow snow) may even fall, and sometimes it rains. In such cases, it is said, “The old man of toxons is turning from one side to the other,” symbolizing the transition to warmer weather. The period after March 13 is called “toxondogu chal ketti,” marking the beginning of spring and the melting of ice.
After the end of “toxons,” the time of winds begins in the Kochkor district. Some residents associate the cooling with the period of “childe” (the 40 coldest days of the year); however, it actually starts on January 8 and ends on February 18.
Sherimbek Omurkaliev, a resident of the village of Kara-Küngöy in the Kochkor district of the Naryn region, previously shared with a Turmush correspondent his observations that “winter childe” is divided into 6 periods and lasts for 40 days and nights.
He described the six “warriors” of “childe”: the first, “kyrdach,” lasts from January 8 to 13; the second — from January 14 to 19; the third, “Zheti's seven sons,” — from January 20 to 26, which is the coldest time of “childe.” The fourth warrior, “Kangtar,” lasts only one day, January 27, indicating that the twentieth day of “childe” has passed.
Then begins the second half of “childe.” The fifth warrior, “Üt,” lasts from January 28 to February 11, when heavy snowfall and rain are expected in most regions. The sixth warrior, “Apkyt sapkyt alty kün,” covers the period from February 12 to 18. The complete end of “childe” falls on February 18,” he added.
