The temperature, recorded at the town's meteorological station at 11.00 EET, was almost matched in Väike-Maarja, 40km to the north, where a value of -20.5C was recorded on Monday morning.

Jõgeva, which lies about 130km southeast of Tallinn, and 40km northwest of Tartu, was also the site of the lowest ever air temperature to be recorded in Estonia, -43.5C, in January 1940.

Being away from the moderating influence of the Baltic Sea, the coldest temperatures recorded each winter in Estonia tend to be in the southeastern portion of the country. Conversely, the hottest summer temperatures are often recorded in that region too, for the same reason.

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