Thermal contrasts are striking between southern and northern Europe at the start of 2024. While an early spring atmosphere envelops the Canaries, a bitter cold is gaining strength from Russia to Scandinavia.
The New Year has begun with big differences in temperature across Europe. In the Canary Islands, maximum temperatures are currently between 20 and 25 degrees, typical of spring. The sun shines for up to 10 hours a day, for example in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Meanwhile, in Northern Europe, the skies are also clear. However, at this time of year, the sun never rises above the horizon, or rises only slightly. This is one of the reasons why the Scandinavian year begins so bitterly cold.
In Sweden, temperatures below -40 degrees were measured locally on Tuesday. It was coldest in the northern Swedish village of Nikkaluokta, at -40.5 degrees.
The cold is gaining ground
In Finland, daily maximum temperatures are currently reaching -15 degrees, and at night, the thermometer is reading below -20 degrees. In Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden, temperatures now remain negative day and night.
Temperatures of -20 degrees are also expected for these two capitals this weekend. Record cold temperatures could be approaching in Scandinavia this weekend.
The main reason for this cold is the position of high pressure zones in Northern Europe, over Finland, gradually spreading westwards across Scandinavia. The low-pressure system will move towards Italy. Between the two, icy air from the Russian Arctic will flow south-westwards. This weekend, high pressure will break away from the Azores High to center near Scotland. The two anticyclones will then merge, bringing very cold air to Western Europe.
Fig. 1: Weather forecast for the weekend; Source: MeteoNews
The cold reaches France
Temperatures will also fall in France, especially from Sunday onwards. Severe frosts (-5 degrees and below) will be widespread across most of the country until at least the middle of next week, and two-thirds of the country won't thaw all day.
Fig. 2: Weather trends for Paris next week (maximum temperatures); Source: MeteoNews
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