Vilis Bukšs: November in Latvia to bring first winter touch on Nov 25
Latvian weather observer Vilis Bukšs announced in a forecast published by nra.lv that November will bring variable precipitation, true autumn conditions, and the first touch of winter around Saint Catherine’s Day on November 25.
The progression toward winter weather begins under shifting atmospheric pressure systems. According to apollo.lv, early-week weather is governed by an anticyclone that brings calm conditions, light winds, and frequent fog banks, while incoming cyclones later in the week will increase cloud cover and raise wind speeds. During the first half of the week, air quality remains good while relative humidity ranges from 70% to 100%, and incoming precipitation zones from the northwest will bring rain to western regions and Vidzeme on Tuesday, followed by Latgale later in the day.
Early November Cloud Cover and Light Rains Across Western Regions
Mornings across Latvia open with heavy cloud cover and localized clearing, as lsm.lv reported for Monday. Central districts experience more frequent breaks in the clouds, whereas parts of Kurzeme see scattered light rain under gentle, shifting winds. In areas experiencing rain, winds blow lightly from the south or southeast, while calm conditions prevail across the rest of the country.
la.lv added that atmospheric pressure remains high between 1029 and 1031 hectopascals at sea level. Early morning temperatures range from +3 to +7 degrees Celsius, while Sunday’s maximum temperatures peaked from +6.6 degrees in Dagda to +9.7 degrees in Kolka, contrasting sharply with a low of -11 degrees in the Alpine mountains and +29 degrees in Portugal. In Riga, thermometers show +4 to +6 degrees with a light southern wind during the morning, while daytime temperatures across the country are expected to reach +6 to +11 degrees, with the warmest conditions along the Kurzeme coast.
Mid-Week Fronts Bring Approaching Frost and Wet Snow Risks
Daytime temperatures through the first part of November hover between plus 4 and plus 9 degrees Celsius. When skies clear at night, thermometers drop below freezing in multiple regions, bringing light frost and drizzle that can occasionally form ice pellets. Tuesday’s minimum night temperatures will range from +3 to +8 degrees, though eastern and central readings will approach the zero mark, before daytime highs reach +6 to +11 degrees with cooler values in the east. On Wednesday, central and eastern areas will see light rain alongside north-northwesterly winds shifting to the west, with overnight temperatures dropping a couple of degrees below zero in eastern districts and daytime highs returning to +5 to +10 degrees, or +3 to +5 degrees in the east.
nra.lv notes that wet snow will mix with light rain around Saint Martin’s Day on November 10. Mid-month conditions turn drier during the day with temperatures around plus 3 to plus 8 degrees, though clear nights will push readings down to minus 5 and minus 7 degrees in isolated spots, creating slick black ice on regional roads.
Cyclones Bring Gusty Coastal Winds and Sub-Zero Temperatures
Weather patterns grow turbulent toward the end of the month as active cyclones arrive. Wind speeds pick up along coastal areas, occasionally turning gusty with frequent shifts between rain and wet snow as end-of-the-week winds become stronger and occasionally gusty in coastal sectors alongside scattered light rain.
nra.lv states that winds and varied precipitation will peak around Saint Cecilia’s Day on November 22 and Saint Catherine’s Day on November 25. By late November, ahead of Saint Andrew’s Day on November 30, Eastern Latvia will retain slight sub-zero temperatures even during daylight hours, allowing small bodies of water to freeze over and an initial snow cover to form.