Big freeze brings Sweden's coldest night of the season
Sweden has had its coldest night of the season, but it's a far cry from the all-time record.
Temperatures plummeted to -22C in Nikkaluokta between Saturday and Sunday, according to national weather agency SMHI – the coldest night so far this winter.
It is not the first time Nikkaluokta, close to the northern city of Kiruna, has set seasonal cold records. This time, it was a combination of clear skies and snow on the ground that caused the mercury to drop shortly.
The small settlement and tourism mountain station at Nikkaluokta is nestled between the valleys Vistasvagge and Ladtjovagge, right at the foot of Sweden's highest mountain Kebnekaise.
"Cold air gathers in the valley because cold air is heavy, and that's why places such as Nikkaluokta often get cold," said public broadcaster SVT's meteorologist Per Stenborg.
READ ALSO: How to talk about the weather in Swedish
Nikkaluokta in northern Sweden. Photo: GoogleMaps
But if you think -22C sounds cold, it is nowhere near Sweden's all-time record for November.
That was set over the course of three days in late November 1890, when -43C was recorded in Vittangi.
The coldest temperature ever officially recorded in any month in Sweden was -52.6C in Vuoggatjålme in the Lapland mountains on February 2nd 1966.
Comments
See Also
Temperatures plummeted to -22C in Nikkaluokta between Saturday and Sunday, according to national weather agency SMHI – the coldest night so far this winter.
It is not the first time Nikkaluokta, close to the northern city of Kiruna, has set seasonal cold records. This time, it was a combination of clear skies and snow on the ground that caused the mercury to drop shortly.
The small settlement and tourism mountain station at Nikkaluokta is nestled between the valleys Vistasvagge and Ladtjovagge, right at the foot of Sweden's highest mountain Kebnekaise.
"Cold air gathers in the valley because cold air is heavy, and that's why places such as Nikkaluokta often get cold," said public broadcaster SVT's meteorologist Per Stenborg.
READ ALSO: How to talk about the weather in Swedish
Nikkaluokta in northern Sweden. Photo: GoogleMaps
But if you think -22C sounds cold, it is nowhere near Sweden's all-time record for November.
That was set over the course of three days in late November 1890, when -43C was recorded in Vittangi.
The coldest temperature ever officially recorded in any month in Sweden was -52.6C in Vuoggatjålme in the Lapland mountains on February 2nd 1966.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.