Heatwave hit Europe’s Arctic coast

Few places in Europe were warmer than the Finnmark region on Tuesday. Nyrud in the Pasvik valley measured a peak at 25,3 degrees Celsius, actually higher than the Mediterranean coast of Spain and Italy.

The normal chilly winds along the coast of Finnmark in Norway and Kola Peninsula in Russia were replaced by very warm air. Mehamn airport measured 20,7, nearly one degree warmer than the previous record from 2013, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute informs. Nearby Slettnes Lighthouse had 22,5°C at maximum. 

Gårsdagen ble varmest i nord! De 17 stasjonene med høyeste temperatur var alle i Troms og Finnmark 

Mehamn lufthavn fikk ny varmerekord for mai med 20,7 grader Den gamle rekorden fra 2013 var 19,8 grader. Det er altså første gang denne stasjonen måler over 20 grader i mai. pic.twitter.com/4NKqCOSa2q

— Meteorologene (@Meteorologene) May 24, 2023

Tuesday was first time ever with a May temperature above 20°C.

Kirkenes airport had 23,7 degrees. Downtown, trees in the park outside the office of Barents Observer are more than a week earlier green than normal.

In Teriberka north of Murmansk, the temperature reached 25,1°C, beating the 69-year-old May record for the Russian Barents Sea coast, local news-online Severpost reported. A 47-year-old record for the city of Murmansk was broken as the thermometer showed 24,9°C in the evening.

 

Green and warm Kirkenes Wednesday morning. Photo: Thomas Nilsen