Unprecedented Warmth on Swiss Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, temperature records were shattered across the southern part of Switzerland, as reported by SRF Meteo. Stations like the one in Lugano, which has been operational for over a century, broke its own heat record set over a century ago, reaching a scorching 17.1 degrees. Even the day before, December 23, broke records with a temperature of 21.3 degrees. The previous record for Lugano was set back in 1931, where it was slightly warmer.
But it wasn't just Lugano. Even in canton Graubünden, places like Poschiavo recorded temperatures of 15.6 degrees, and at the Ofen Pass, located at an altitude of more than 2100 meters, the mercury rose to 8.9 degrees.
This Christmas thaw weather is a common occurrence, as reported by SRF Meteo. As Scandinavia enters the polar night at the end of November, a cold high forms, and chilly air from the north often flows into Central Europe. However, some of this cold air gets caught in the warm Atlantic, forming low-pressure areas. These areas often result in a thaw and significantly milder temperatures just before Christmas.
Furthermore...
While Christmas Eve was a scorcher in Lugano and parts of Graubünden, other areas in Switzerland, like the Ofen Pass, still experienced winter conditions.
Even though Lugano broke its own heat records, some parts of Switzerland, such as the Ofen Pass in Graubünden, experienced winter conditions.
This Christmas thaw weather pattern is primarily due to a mix of factors: persistent high-pressure systems, inversion weather conditions, global warming trends, and repeated mild phases. These factors contribute to the unusual warmth during the Christmas period in Central Europe.
More to Explore:
- Although Lugano, Italy, in canton Ticino, broke its temperature records on Christmas Eve, other parts of Switzerland, like the Ofen Pass in Graubünden, continued to experience winter conditions.
- SRF Meteo reported that on Christmas Eve, many measuring stations in southern Switzerland, including one in Lugano, shattered temperature records that had been set over a century ago.
- In addition to Lugano in Ticino, various measuring stations throughout Switzerland, such as those in Graubünden, experienced unusually warm temperatures on Christmas Eve.
- On Christmas Eve, the Swiss measuring station in Lugano, positioned on the Saint Bernard Pass road in Ticino and managed by Meteo Switzerland, recorded 17.1 degrees, surpassing the record set back in 1931.
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