Europe experienced record-breaking heat anomalies in much of the continent, only the Scandinavian countries in the far north experienced cold temperatures. Jaw-dropping temperatures of 2 Celsius (3.6 F) above normal, portions of central and southern Europe 4-6 Celsius ( 7.2 F — 10.8 F) according to the World Meteorological Organization (the link includes the other continents as well with the exception of the Antarctic). In some European locations, 68+ F for a couple of days above normal. Wow!
Winter 2023/24 was 2–3 °C warmer than normal in southeastern Europe and might also be record warm at least for some parts. There was a sharp contrast between a cold Northern Europe and much warmer middle and subtropical latitudes, according to the Deutscher Wetterdienst, which acts as a WMO regional climate monitoring centre for Europe.
In late February 2024, a significant warm spell occurred in eastern central Europe and southeastern Europe. Maximum temperatures reached 20 °C and higher in some locations, or more than 10 °C above the average for February.
Thus, daily maximum temperatures were 15-20 °C across an area between southeastern Poland and the northern Balkans on 27 February. This was at least 12 °C above the 1991-2020 normal and thus very high for late winter. On 24 February, daily maxima exceeded 20 °C in southern Romania and northern Bulgaria with deviations of more than 14 °C above normal.
The station Lviv in western Ukraine, with data back to 1824, noted a new February record at 17.8 °C.
Minimum overnight temperatures also were high for late winter. Large parts of this area recorded minimum temperatures of 5-10 °C, sometimes even above 10 °C. Frost,which is common for late February even in the “modern” 1991-2020 climate, was notable by its absence.
Low-pressure systems moving from the North Atlantic into Europe played a role in the warmth. Some of them had a path over Northern Europe, others further south to the Mediterranean. The latter was also the case for the low-pressure system “Dorothea”, which was located over the western Mediterranean on 27 February 2024. East of Dorothea, warm subtropical air from North Africa was led to Southeastern and eastern Central Europe, where the high temperatures were measured.
Be sure to check this Twitter thread from Scott Duncan. Lots of scary temperature records.
Here is the kicker, experts at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) found that meltwater from Greenland will bring scorching hot temperatures this summer to Europe.
From the European Geosciences Union:
Discussing the implications, lead author Marilena Oltmanns, Research Scientist at the National Oceanography Centre, said, "While the UK and northern Europe experienced unusually cool and wet weather in Summer 2023, Greenland experienced an unusually warm summer, leading to increased freshwater input into the North Atlantic."
"Based on the identified chain of events, we expect that the ocean-atmosphere conditions will be favorable for an unusually warm and dry summer over southern Europe this year."
Marilena continued, "Depending on the pathway of the freshwater in the North Atlantic, we are also expecting a warm and dry summer in northern Europe within the next five years. We will be able to estimate the exact year of the warm and dry summer in northern Europe more closely in the winter before it occurs."
Melting sea ice and glacial ice are a growing source of freshwater to the North Atlantic, and changes in the amount of sea ice can disrupt normal ocean circulation, influencing global climate. With increases in ice melt, the study suggests that European heat waves and droughts will become more intense in the future. The warming over Europe after strong freshwater releases in the North Atlantic will add to the warming already happening because of climate change, causing weather patterns to shift.
The soaring temperatures are not specific to Europe. We are in a global climate emergency.
Thousands of cattle died. Ignore the nut-ball-poster over his CT on the Beef Industry.
Speaking of heated...whoa.
Summer is coming. Will climate change sway some voters this November? Because summer is coming, and all hell will break out.
