Mild Winter Temperatures Forecast for EU in Dec-Feb: Copernicus

Europe and US East Coast are more likely to see mild temperatures and avoid an unusually cold winter according to the seasonal outlook from Copernicus Climate Change Service on Thursday.

• The outlook shows a higher probability of mild temperature during the peak heating season between December and February.
• There’s a 50%-60% probability that the UK, much of the Mediterranean coast and parts of central Europe will see well-above-average temperatures. The rest of the continent has a 40%-50% chance of significantly exceeding historical averages.
• US forecaster Commodity Weather Group however sees temperatures in Europe colder than last year and slightly cooler than the 10-year average.
• A colder winter will reduce Europe’s chances of getting through this heating season “relatively unscathed,” said Katja Yafimava, senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. “Blackouts and industry closures could not be ruled out,” she said.