European countries are facing an unusually cold start to the week, with temperatures dropping below -10°C in some parts of Scandinavia and snow falling in other parts of the region, UNN reports citing Bloomberg.
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According to the weather forecaster Maxar Technologies, Norway, Sweden and Finland are suffering from low sub-zero temperatures, which are expected to remain for at least another week. Meanwhile, rain, sleet, and snow are expected across much of the UK and France.
The UK Met Office has issued a yellow rain warning for the southwest of the country. Most of Western Europe is expecting colder weather, snow and flash floods after air and rail services in Germany and the Netherlands were halted. The temperature in Berlin will remain close to zero all week.
On Monday, the temperature in Oslo is forecast to drop to -13.5°C, more than 12 degrees below the average for this time of year. Wind power production, a key source of electricity in the region, has virtually stopped, accounting for only 4.9% of the region's output.
Sweden, which is usually a net exporter of electricity, imported electricity from Germany and Poland on Monday to ensure that supplies will meet growing demand. Uniper SE, a liquid-fueled plant in the south, is on standby to generate electricity if needed. To help the market, Vattenfall AB resumed operations at its Ringhals 4 nuclear reactor earlier than planned.
The UK exported electricity to Norway, a rare occurrence.
According to Maxar, across Europe, a total of 85.1 heating degree days are forecast in the next 1-5 days, well ahead of the 10-year normal of 66.8. That’s a key indication of persistent below-normal temperatures.