Sweden shivers under lowest temperatures since 1999, causing significant disruption and rocketing electricity prices
More precisely, in the town of Naimakka, situated in the north of Sweden, an extremely low temperature was registered on Thursday. Thermometers recorded a striking minus 46.8 degrees Fahrenheit. This information was disseminated by the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute.
Moa Hallberg, a meteorologist at SMHI, emphasized the significance of this temperature, remarking, "This was the lowest temperature since 1999."
However, this was not the only chilling record broken recently. In the town of Nikkaluokta, at the start of the week, thermometers registered a strong minus 42.88 Fahrenheit. Then, on Wednesday, in Kvikkjokk-Arrenjarka, temperatures fell even lower to minus 46.48 Fahrenheit.
The cold wave affected residents in the city of Umea, situated in Northern Sweden. On Thursday, thermometers in Umea recorded a low temperature of minus 33.88 degrees Fahrenheit, the lowest temperature since 1987.
A severe winter in Scandinavia
These low temperatures make daily life challenging, especially for drivers and passengers of public transport. Unfavorable weather conditions in the city of Skelleftea have reduced city bus trips, which are electrically operated.
Scandinavia has been dealing with a severe winter for several days. The north is experiencing harsh low temperatures, whereas snowstorms and strong winds persist in the southern part. Consequently, road E22 between Kristianstad and Hoerby in the Skaane region has been closed since Wednesday. Approximately 1000 cars are stuck in the snow there.
Skyrocketing electricity prices
The cold front that swept across Sweden has resulted in an increased electricity demand. As a result, electricity prices have hit their highest level in a year. Furthermore, due to technical difficulties, one of the three reactors at the Forsmark nuclear power plant has had to reduce its power output. The energy company Fortum has encouraged its customers to operate high-consumption devices outside peak hours.
The record for the lowest temperature
According to the data from SMHI, the historical cold record in Sweden was on February 2, 1966. A temperature of minus 52.6 degrees Celsius (minus 62.68 degrees Fahrenheit) was recorded in the town of Vuoggatjalme in the north of the country. However, there are questions about the accuracy of this meteorological record, with uncertainties about potential errors made at the time.
