An Arctic cold wave is moving across Europe as a persistent Greenland block redirects polar air southward. Forecast models show temperature anomalies between −10°C and −15°C (14°F and 5°F) at 850 hPa with extensive snow cover developing over much of the continent, with heavy snow already affecting parts of the UK and Balkans at the start of January 2026.
A powerful winter storm named Johannes swept across the Nordic countries over the weekend, killing three people in Sweden and leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity across Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Sweden’s Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) issued widespread alerts for strong winds as the system moved north. The storm, known as Hannes in Finland, also caused major travel disruptions, grounding flights and halting rail and ferry traffic.
A sudden stratospheric warming event has begun, deforming the Polar Vortex and setting the stage for a colder start to winter across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
An early stratospheric warming developing over the Arctic in late November 2025 is raising the likelihood of colder conditions and increased snowfall across parts of the United States, Canada, and possibly Europe in December.
Forecast data indicate an early weakening and displacement of the stratospheric polar vortex over the Arctic in October 2025, as a developing high-pressure anomaly over Greenland interacts with the circulation earlier than usual, increasing the chances of colder air movement toward the mid-latitudes of North America and Europe.
Storm Amy is forecast to bring hurricane-force winds to Ireland and the UK on October 3, 2025, with Met Office amber warnings and Met Éireann red marine warnings in effect.
A rare waterspout outbreak occurred over the Baltic Sea on August 21, 2025, producing at least 12 waterspouts off the coast of Poland and 8 off Denmark, including one sighting of eight simultaneous funnels.
The Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) issued its first-ever red alert for dangerous rainfall on July 21–22, 2025, after more than 130 mm (5.1 inches) fell over parts of southeastern Denmark.
A rare summer cold front swept across the Alps from late July 7 to July 8, 2025, bringing significant snowfall and sub-seasonal temperatures to elevations above 2 300 m (7 500 feet). Up to 30 cm (12 inches) of fresh snow was recorded in the Mont-Blanc massif, with temperatures dropping 5–10°C (9–18°F) below seasonal averages.
Severe thunderstorms, accompanied by heavy rainfall, large hail, and damaging wind gusts, are forecast to affect northern Italy, southern Slovenia, western Croatia, northeastern Hungary, eastern Slovakia, western Ukraine, and eastern Poland on July 7 and 8, 2025. Widespread weather alerts have been issued by national agencies, with impacts expected in both urban and rural regions.
