The last few months in Europe were 3.4 degrees above average temperatures.
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This winter was by far the warmest in Europe since records started. This was announced by the European climate change service Copernicus (Copernicus Climate Change Service, C3S) on Wednesday in London. Accordingly, the temperature between December 2019 and February 2020 was 3.4 degrees Celsius above the average measured temperature from 1981 to 2010 and 1.4 degrees above the hottest winter 2015/16.
Especially in the north and east of the continent, the temperature was higher than usual. The same applies to Siberia and Central Asia. According to the announcement, C3S director Carlo Buontempo emphasizes that this is not solely due to global warming. Seasonal temperatures, especially outside the tropics, are subject to large fluctuations from year to year. Nevertheless, a reinforcing effect can be assumed. “Although this was a really extreme event in itself, it is likely that these types of events have been made more extreme by the global warming trend,” said Buontempo.
The seasons are defined differently in meteorology and astronomy. The meteorological winter ended in February. The calendar winter ends with the equinox on March 20.
The EU’s climate change service produces monthly reports on air temperature, sea ice and the water cycle. Data from satellites, ships, airplanes and weather stations around the globe is used.
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