Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland have just experienced two weeks of unusually hot weather, rare for the Nordic countries.
The cold and cool climate region typically sees only about 50 to 80 sunny days each year, but this climatic pattern in Northern Europe has been disrupted in recent weeks. The heat in Northern Europe is not excessively scorching or suffocating, but the bright sunshine with temperatures ranging from 27oC to 30oC for an entire week is indeed very unusual.
The heat with temperatures ranging from 27oC to 30oC for an entire week is indeed very unusual.
The newspaper Aftenposten published in Norway reported on “a heat wave” early this summer with “temperatures reaching 30oC in some areas of the capital Oslo and surrounding regions, lasting several days.” The article noted: “Typically, late summer is the hottest time. For temperatures to reach this high in mid-May is quite unusual.”
Norway, a country in the far north of Europe, is usually cool year-round, and “must have five consecutive days with maximum temperatures above 27oC to be considered a heat wave.”
In the neighboring country of Sweden, the situation is similar, with temperatures reaching 27oC in mid-May.
The Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet stated: “A real heat wave is sweeping across Sweden,” illustrated with a photo of people swimming in rivers. Even more striking for readers is the weather forecast: A vibrant red color covering 30 major cities in Sweden for 14 days. According to the article: “Long-term forecasts estimate that this summer in Sweden will be one to two degrees warmer than usual.”
Sweden has issued heat guidelines for nursing homes, primarily preparing electric fans, refreshing drinks, and installing sunshades.
Media outlets in the Nordic countries have started producing articles advising readers on how to cope with the heat, a situation that seems almost impossible in these countries where winters are long and summers are very short, and where people typically flock outdoors to bask in the sun on sunny days.
A Danish newspaper offered advice that anyone in a tropical climate would know: “Drink plenty of water, buy electric fans, close windows during the day, and open them in the evening” to let the cool air in for easier sleeping…
No Nordic newspaper has mentioned air conditioning, instead focusing on natural cooling methods that don’t require electricity, such as “creating a flow of cool air from the ground to ventilate the apartment above.”
