Mongolian National agency of meteorology and environmental monitoring has informed snow measurement data. According to the data, more than 50 percent of the area is covered in snow as of December 10. Snow thickness is 11-22 cm in the mountainous areas, such as Altay, Khangai, Khentiy, Khuvsgul and the Tamsag gorge while there is 1-10 sm snow in some soums of Gobi and steppe regions.

An assessment of the state of the zhud revealed that 20 soums of 8 provinces are at risk. These provinces are Bayan-Ulgiy, Zavkhan, Bayankhongor, Uvs, Khovd, Selenge, Tuv, Khentiy and Dornod.

Last year, Mongolia had harshest winter in half a century with extreme conditions killing more than 4.7 million animals. The severe conditions, known as dzud, are characterized by plunging temperatures and deep snow and ice that blanket grazing areas and cut off access to food for livestock. About 300,000 people in Mongolia are traditional nomadic herders and depend on their cattle, goats and horses for food and to sell at market. The dzud has had a devastating economic toll for herders and caused disruptions to travel, trade and access to healthcare and education for many Mongolians, especially those living in rural areas, as heavy snow cuts off road access.