Northern Sweden braces for soaring temperatures, expected to match those of Southern Europe
Sweden is set to experience an unusual heatwave from Tuesday to Thursday, affecting several regions in the north of the country. The national weather agency, SMHI, has issued a yellow warning of high temperatures for non-coastal areas in Västerbotten, Jämtland, and Västernorrland.
The heatwave, while not expected to break any temperature records, is still considered unusual for Sweden. Maximum daily temperatures are forecast to reach 26-33C in several regions, including Västernorrland, eastern Jämtland, Västerbotten, and Norrbotten.
SMHI advises residents in these regions to take precautions during the heatwave, particularly regarding personal health and that of those around them. The agency recommends creating a cool environment, drinking more water, taking it easy, and finding ways to cool down.
The heatwave is part of a larger pattern of warming in Europe, where the continent has seen a temperature increase of about 2.3°C since pre-industrial times. This trend is expected to continue, making such heatwaves more frequent, longer-lasting, and intense, with significant environmental and societal consequences.
Since 1997, Sweden has experienced an increase in unusually hot months and more frequent, prolonged heatwaves, especially in northern regions. These heatwaves are driven primarily by climate change, which intensifies and prolongs warm conditions due to rising global temperatures caused by carbon pollution.
Key causes include climate change from increased greenhouse gas emissions, mainly carbon dioxide, leading to global warming. Persistent high-pressure weather systems that trap heat over the region and warmer ocean waters off the Norwegian coast contributing to elevated air temperatures in Sweden and neighboring Nordic countries also play a significant role.
The effects of these hotter months and heatwaves in Sweden include record-breaking temperature events, ecological impacts such as stress on reindeer herds and disruptions to typical flora and fauna, increased risk of wildfires, and strain on infrastructure and public health.
Sverker Hellström, a climatologist at SMHI, stated that the rising temperature over time is a sign of climate change. The advisory does not discuss the increase in unusually hot months or the overall trend of rising temperatures in Sweden.
All summers in Sweden since the turn of the millennium have been hotter than normal, with the exception of 2000 and 2012. Despite this, the advisory does not mention any specific temperature records set in the past.
[1] World Meteorological Organization (2020). State of the Global Climate in 2019. Geneva, Switzerland: WMO. [2] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2018). Global Warming of 1.5°C. Geneva, Switzerland: IPCC. [3] European Environment Agency (2020). European Union Climate Change Programme. Copenhagen, Denmark: EEA. [4] Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (2020). Climate Change Impacts in Sweden. Stockholm, Sweden: SMHI.
- The upcoming heatwave in Sweden, driven by climate change, indicates a significant shift in the country's weather pattern, mirroring the warming trend observed across Europe as reported by the World Meteorological Organization, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the European Environment Agency.
- As highlighted in the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute's (SMHI) report on Climate Change Impacts in Sweden, the increased presence of unusually hot months and prolonged heatwaves, such as the one forecast for Sweden this week, are primarily linked to climate change, a consequence of rising global temperatures caused by carbon pollution, leading to potential societal and environmental consequences.
