2021 Eurasia winter heat wave

Across Europe[1] and parts of Asia, unusually high-temperatures in the late-winter period were reported from February 20 until February 28, 2021. The onset of the short-lasting winter heat wave was caused by a jet stream of Saharan dust. Daily high temperatures for the period were similar to the maximum high temperatures during spring.[2]

February 2021 winter heat wave
Temperature anomalies recorded in the Arctic, Greenland, Europe, and Asia on February 25, 2021
TypeHeat wave
AreasEurope, Asia
Start date20 February 2021 (2021-02-20)
End date28 February 2021
Losses
DeathsNone

In the capitals of Germany and France, Berlin[3] and Paris, high temperatures of 20 °C (68 °F) were reported. The capitals of the UK and Poland, London and Warsaw, had high temperatures around 18 °C (64 °F). Croatia saw its highest overall temperature of 26.4 °C (79.5 °F). The capital of China, Beijing, also experienced the highest overall winter temperature: 25.6 °C (78.1 °F).[4][5]

Areas affected

edit

United Kingdom

edit

The previous winter heatwave, that affected the United Kingdom in 2019, set a record-breaking day in Aboyne, Scotland, after 122 years at 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) with three other sites exceeding over 20 °C (68 °F).[6] Warnings were set off across UK for not only the heatwave but a pollen bomb just shortly after the January 2021 coldwave went through UK and Europe.[7]

Europe

edit
 
A Sentinel-3 satellite image shows true colour (left) and land temperature (right) on February 24, 2021

Among the European cities such as Berlin, and Paris reaching 20 °C (68 °F), the warmer climate of Europe also has seen increase of overall high winter temperature and those were reported in Slovenia at 25.2 °C (77.4 °F), Italy at 25.2 °C (77.4 °F)[8] and Czech Republic at 20 °C (68 °F). In Poland, record temperature of 21.7 °C (71.1 °F) was reported in Makow Podhalanski and in Slovakia at Hurbanavo, a high temperature of 20.8 °C (69.4 °F) was reported. Sweden had set a record high temperature of 16.8 °C (62.2 °F) caused by the foehn wind.[9]

Asia

edit

In China, Beijing experienced a record high day of 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) breaking the 1996 record on February 13,[10] while Anyang and Hefei hit 28.8 °C (83.8 °F) and 28.7 °C (83.7 °F), respectively. While Longzhou and Cao Bang both reached 29.5 °C (85.1 °F) on February 20. Pohang, South Korea surpassed its own 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) set in 2004 with a new 24.9 °C (76.8 °F) on February 21.[11] In China, it was the warmest February recorded nationwide since 1961.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Kelly, Maura (27 February 2021). "Temperatures jump as winter 'heat wave' envelops parts of Europe". AccuWeather. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Bizarre European Heat Smashes All-Time February Temperature Records". Gizmodo. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Germany sees record temperature swings". PerthNow. 23 February 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Temperatures jump as winter 'heat wave' envelops parts of Europe". news.yahoo.com. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Beijing soars to record 78 degrees, setting winter temperature record". The Washington Post. 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Media reaction: The UK's record-breaking winter heat in 2019". Carbon Brief. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  7. ^ Coles, Jonathan; Pickstock, Heather (16 February 2021). "Winter heatwave sparks 'pollen bomb' alert for hayfever sufferers". BristolLive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  8. ^ https://mkweather.com/2021/02/25/winter-heatwave-hit-croatia-264c-slovenia-253c-and-northeastern-italy-252c-2021-hot/[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Sweden Breaks February Record High Temperature | Voice of America – English". www.voanews.com. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  10. ^ Travis, Courtney (25 February 2021). "Beijing records highest winter temperature ever amid heat wave". AccuWeather. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  11. ^ Korosec, Marko (22 February 2021). "A record-breaking late winter heatwave sets new all-time February records across China and South Korea this weekend". Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.