Europe experiences ‘unprecedented’ winter heatwave in early 2023

A historic winter heatwave sent temperatures soaring in parts of Europe over the New Year weekend.

The Washington Post reports that thousands of temperature records were broken across the continent from Saturday to Monday, and on New Year’s Day alone, at least seven countries experienced the hottest January weather on record.

Those mild temperatures included 67.3 degrees (19.6 Celsius) in the Czech Republic, 66.2 (19.0) in Poland and 62.4 (16.9 Celsius) in the Netherlands, according to the newspaper. Belarus, Denmark, Latvia and Lithuania also experienced record high temperatures in the 50s and 60s.

“Nothing comes close to that,” climatologist Maximiliano Herrera told the Post, calling the temperatures “totally insane” and “absolute insanity.”

Meanwhile, parts of the usually snow-covered Alps were sparse and brown as organizers of the Skiing World Cup, held in Switzerland, planned the race to be held entirely on artificial snow, the report reported. ‘Associated Press.

On social networks, meteorologists were alarmed by the extreme temperatures.

“Truly unprecedented in modern records,” tweeted Scottish meteorologist Scott Duncan.

The unusual heat follows what has been the hottest summer on record in Europe by a “substantial margin”, according to the Copernicus climate change service.

In April, a heartbreaking United Nations report on climate change said drastic measures to reduce fossil fuel emissions must begin immediately to mitigate global catastrophe.

“Otherwise we will continue to sleepwalk towards climate catastrophe,” said UN Environment Program Director Inger Andersen.