Normal Weather Returning to UK After Warm Start to This Year

Jan 4, 2023

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(Bloomberg) -- The balmy weather engulfing the UK is poised to give way to more normal temperatures next week, boosting energy demand for heating. 

London will average 6.5 degrees Celsius (11.7 Fahrenheit) on Monday, just 0.7 Celsius above the seasonal norm, according to Maxar Technologies Inc. That compares with as much as 5.2 degrees above average today. 

The warm start to the year in most of Europe has suppressed energy prices that are still much higher than normal and provided some relief to the challenges the energy crisis has brought on utilities and grid operators. 

European Cities Break Temperature Records as Warm Winter Holds

Normal temperatures are also expected across the Nordics after a short-lived cold-snap, with levels forecast near the seasonal normal in Stockholm on Monday. 

Central and southern Europe will remain remain unseasonably warm through next week. Madrid temperatures will peak at 13.5 degrees Celsius on Monday, according to Maxar. 

The mild weather on the continent has caused snow in the Alps to melt away, forcing resorts to close some of their slopes. At French resort Alpe d’Huez, no snowfall at all is forecast during the next 7 days and only 23 out of 70 lifts are open, according to website onthesnow.

The power market is currently enjoying a boost from German wind power production near a record, which is sending prices lower. Output is set to peak at 46,199MW at midnight on Thursday, which is almost a quarter of the nation’s total generation capacity. 

  • For Bloomberg’s weather functions, see WFOR and EFOR

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