# Europe experienced second-warmest winter on record
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2023-03-09
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Europe's Second-Warmest Winter Brings Climate Change
Meta Description: Europe experienced its joint-second warmest winter, with temperatures 1.4 degrees above average. Discover the impacts of climate change on the region.
URL: https://financedigest.com/europe-experienced-second-warmest-winter-on-recordhtml

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By Kate Abnett

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Europe is emerging from its second-warmest winter on record, European Union scientists said on Wednesday, as climate change continues to intensify.

The average temperature in Europe from December to February was 1.4 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 average for the Boreal winter season, according to data published by the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

That ranks as [Europe’s joint-second warmest winter on record](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-oil-exports-to-europe-hit-record-in-march-on-steep-discounts.html "U.S. oil exports to Europe hit record in March on steep discounts"), exceeded only by the winter of 2019-2020.

[Europe experienced a severe winter heatwave](https://www.financedigest.com/air-pollution-surges-as-heatwave-sweeps-across-europe.html "Air pollution surges as heatwave sweeps across Europe") in late December and early January, when record-high winter temperatures hit countries from France to Hungary, forcing ski resorts to close because of lack of snow.

The European Commission said on Jan. 2 hundreds of temperature records had been broken across the continent, including the Swiss town of Altdorf reaching 19.2C, smashing a [record standing since](https://www.financedigest.com/biggest-uk-house-price-fall-recorded-since-financial-crisis.html "Biggest UK house price fall recorded since financial crisis") 1864.

C3S said temperatures were particularly high in eastern [Europe and the north of Nordic countries](https://www.financedigest.com/best-countries-in-europe-to-live-in.html "Best countries in Europe to live in"). While overall temperatures in Europe were above the norm, some regions were below-average, including parts of Russia and Greenland.

Scientists say [Europe’s winters are becoming warmer as a result of rising](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-rate-rises-pile-pain-on-sme-firms-in-u-s-and-europe.html "Analysis-Rate rises pile pain on SME firms in U.S. and Europe") global temperatures, due to human-caused climate change.

The unusually mild winter offered some short-term relief to governments struggling with high gas [prices after Russia slashed fuel deliveries to Europe](https://www.financedigest.com/tesla-expands-discounts-with-price-cuts-in-europe-singapore-israel.html "Tesla expands discounts with price cuts in Europe, Singapore, Israel") last year, with higher temperatures curbing gas demand for heating in many countries.

But the high temperatures pose risks to wildlife and agriculture. Winter temperature spikes can cause plants to start growing or coax animals out of hibernation prematurely, making them vulnerable to being killed off by later [cold snaps](https://www.financedigest.com/france-strains-to-avert-power-cuts-as-cold-snap-tests-europes-energy-resolve.html "France strains to avert power cuts as cold snap tests Europe’s energy resolve").

Tilly Collins, deputy director of Imperial College [London’s Centre](https://www.financedigest.com/new-york-catches-up-with-london-to-head-citys-global-centres-survey.html "New York catches up with London to head City’s global centres survey") for Environmental Policy, said the changing climate meant plants and animals were struggling to move to new locations to maintain their ideal temperature.

For species with small populations or restricted ranges this can [easily tip](https://www.financedigest.com/world-bank-warns-global-economy-could-easily-tip-into-recession-in-2023.html "World Bank warns global economy could easily tip into recession in 2023") them on a path to extinction,” Collins said.

Copernicus pointed to other climate-linked extremes, including Antarctic sea ice, which last month dropped to its lowest level for any [February in the 45-year record](https://www.financedigest.com/energy-bill-support-pushes-uk-budget-deficit-to-february-record.html "Energy bill support pushes UK budget deficit to February record") of satellite data.

These [low sea ice conditions may have important implications for the stability of Antarctic ice shelves and ultimately for global sea level rise,”](https://www.financedigest.com/euro-rises-after-spanish-cpi-dollar-slips-towards-8-mth-low.html "Euro rises after Spanish CPI, dollar slips towards 8-mth low") said C3S Deputy Director Samantha Burgess.

(Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Alison Williams)


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