Sweden records lowest January temperature since 1999

A severe cold snap has gripped the Nordic region, with Sweden experiencing its coldest January night in 25 years. This extreme weather has caused widespread disruption across Scandinavia, closing schools and halting transport, while Storm Henk brought heavy rain and strong winds to Western Europe, leading to one fatality and widespread damage.

Övertorneå, situated in northern Sweden, registered -32.4 °C (-26.3 °F) on January 1, the coldest it’s been since 2002, and an even more cold -37.4 °C (-35.4 °F) on January 2, setting a new record low since records began in 1955.

In Kvikkjokk-Årrenjarka, Swedish Lapland, the temperatures dropped to -43.6 °C (-46.5 °F) on January 3, marking the lowest January temperature recorded in Sweden since 1999 when -49 °C (-56.2 °F) was registered in Karesuando, tying the record set in 1951.

-43.6 °C registered today also marks the lowest temperature that has been recorded in Kvikkjokk-Årrenjarka since measurements began in 1888.

The biting cold, snowstorms, and gale-force winds have caused significant disruptions, closing several bridges, and halting train and ferry services. Schools throughout Scandinavia have also been forced to close their doors due to the extreme conditions.

In Finland, A seasonal record of -38.7 °C (-37.6 °F) was recorded on Tuesday evening, January 2 in the northern Lapland region. Several frozen or burst water pipes were reported, leading to around 300 people in Tampere being left without running water on Tuesday, according to Finnish broadcaster YLE.

Police in Denmark urged motorists to avoid unnecessary travel as wind and snow wreaked havoc, particularly in the northern and western parts of the country.

The cold front, originating from Siberia and the Arctic region, has also plunged temperatures in western Russia, with Moscow experiencing lows of -30 °C (-22 °F). Officials in Russian cities have issued orange weather warnings, alerting residents to the potential health risks posed by the intense cold.

In stark contrast, Western Europe is battling the effects of strong winds and heavy rain. The storm, named Henk, has been particularly damaging in Britain, where a driver tragically died after a tree fell on his car. Over 300 flood warnings were issued across England and Wales, with 10 000 homes experiencing power outages. The River Nene in Northampton posed a severe flood threat, prompting evacuations. The U.K.’s rail network was also significantly affected, disrupting the Wednesday morning commute.

The Netherlands and France were also affected, with strong winds causing a fatal accident in Eindhoven and heavy rains leading to the evacuation of 200 people and power outages for 10 000 households in northern regions.

The floods have turned streets into waterways, prompting hundreds of emergency workers to respond. Additional support from Czechia, Slovakia, and the Netherlands has been dispatched to assist in rescue operations and mitigate the flooding.

References:

¹ Extreme cold grips the Nordics, breaking record in Sweden for coldest January night – AP – January 3, 2024

² Sweden sees coldest weather in 25 years – AFP – January 3, 2024

³ Storm Henk wreaks havoc across UK, leaving one dead and thousands without power – The Watchers – January 3, 2024

Featured image credit: Grizzlybear-se