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Niklas Sieger is an Austrian meteorologist who explains the causes of the unusual weather-situation and the lack of snow in most parts of Europe. But he also comes up cautiously with good news:

Yes, it should be winter in Europe – but in fact, it isn’t. The general weather situation always repeated itself in the last few weeks which is the reason why masses of warm air from Spain and Portugal have been transported and spread into wide parts of Europe. The outcome: Little natural snow, but much artificial snow. But why is it so warm this year? This has got many causes of which climate change and global warming are the two most important ones.

2015 is likely to be the warmest year on record and 2011-2015 the warmest five year period on record. The global average surface temperature in 2015 is likely to reach the symbolic and significant milestone of 1° Celsius above the pre-industrial era. This is due to a combination of a strong El Niño and human-induced global warming and is causing ar influencing many extreme weather events – especially heatwaves.

We saw it in the last few days – 16°C in higher regions of Austria, 10°C in parts of Russia. However, the end of this weather situation is in sight. Beginning on Tuesday, masses of cold air from Russia will be transported into parts of Eastern Europe. East of Berlin, Vienna and Zagreb there will be a feeling of winter. Even in lower regions there will be no more than 0°C for a few days, in the mountains it will be frosty (with around -10°C in 2000 m in hight) and therefore able to be covered with artificial snow. In the Western parts of Europe it will stay relatively warm, but as I said, in the Eastern parts there will be the possibility to cover the landscapes with artificial snow which will be necessary as there is not much „normal“ snow in sight. Maybe around 5th or 6th of January the Alps will get a bit of snow but this is not sure yet as there is much time left to it. In the next few days until the first week of 2016 there is no snow in sight. But we will see what comes up then. I am quite optimistic for the mountains. The winter isn’t over yet – it has just begun!

Niklas Sieger

(picture: Ubimet / ECMWF)