Europe is experiencing an unusually warm January, with fresh records being set all around the region.
On New Year’s Day, at least seven nations saw the warmest January days on record. Temperatures were recorded in Belarus, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Poland that weren’t typically seen until spring.
Temperatures in Vysokaje, Belarus, reached a record 16.4C. This was 4.5C warmer than the previous high for January in the nation.
Poland’s Korbielów village recorded temperatures reaching a high of 19C. January typically has an average temperature of 1C. Temperatures at Javornk, Czech Republic, were 16.6°C higher than typical for this time of year, at 19.6°C as opposed to the 3°C average.
The Netherlands recorded a temperature of 16.9C, Latvia 11.1C, Lithuania 14.6C, and Denmark 12.6C.
The disparity between the typical temperature at this time of year and what is currently being recorded is therefore greater than anything ever observed, even though this is not the hottest Europe has ever been.
A heat dome that has gathered over Europe is the direct cause of this exceptional weather, even though climate change is a significant factor.
The polar vortex, which brought on the chilly December in Britain, has begun to dissipate. This indicates that the record – breaking temperatures are the result of milder air from the south and southwest, specifically North Africa, moving up northeast into Europe.
The weather has been less extreme in Britain. According to Dan Stroud, a Met Office operational meteorologist, temperatures in the North and Scotland are around average for this time of year. In contrast, it has been warmer than usual in southern England. Heathrow experienced a high of 12.3C on January 1.
However, Mr. Stroud warned that the UK shouldn’t anticipate temperatures in the following month to reach European levels. The forecast calls for temperatures to stay above normal for warmth. The “unsettled and damp weather” that Britain has been experiencing should continue to be the major trend.
