SMHI: Warm 2024 after record cold

Published December 31, 2024 at 12:26 PM

Domestic. The year 2024 looks set to be an unusually warm year in Sweden, especially in the northernmost parts of the country. But earlier in the year, record-breaking cold temperatures were reached, SMHI notes.

Share the article

TwittraShare

The cold hit with full force in January. Vittangi in northern Lapland recorded a whopping -44.6°, the coldest temperature in Sweden since 1999. At the same time, Skåne was hit by chaotic snowstorms that stranded motorists along the E22.

But the chilly start was later replaced by new heat records in September, when Lund and Helsingborg registered 31.1°, the highest September temperature ever recorded in Sweden.

In northern Sweden, the summer was marked by record heat with temperatures reaching 32.0° in Uppsala on June 28. At the same time, southern Sweden had a more “normal” summer, although autumn offered more heat records, according to SMHI.

In terms of precipitation, the year was a mixed story. Western Sweden received significantly more rain than normal, while the eastern regions experienced unusual drought, especially during May when some areas, such as Örnsköldsvik, did not receive a drop of rain.

The winds also showed their strength during the year. A new wind record was set in the mountains, where an average wind of 51.8 m/s was measured at Stekenjokk during storm Ingunn in February.

Despite the dramatic weather year, there were also calmer elements. Sunshine hours exceeded normal in most places, with Gotland as the sunniest place. However, no new records were set here.

SMHI notes that 2024, with preliminary figures, looks set to end up in fifth place among the warmest years in Sweden since measurements began.