At a Glance
- Temperatures climbed to 90 degrees in a couple locations in northern Europe this week.
- Highs in the 50s to lower 60s are more typical in northern Norway.
- Warm ocean temperatures and drought likely contributed.
Temperatures have scorched past the 90-degree mark well into the Arctic in parts of Norway and Finland this week.
The town of Lakselv, Norway, located near the Banak Peninsula and more than 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle in far northern Europe, recorded a temperature of 91 degrees on Wednesday and a high of at least 90 degrees twice this week. That's roughly 30 degrees above average for this region of the world.
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Much of coastal Norway and western Finland recorded temperatures above 85 degrees (or 29.5 degrees C) on July 30, but some spots were warmer on Aug. 1. All-time records were set in both countries on July 30.
The month-ending heat helped push Finland toward its warmest July on record. Many cities across Europe seared all-time records in the last week of July, including in Norway and Finland.
This was not the first time parts of Scandinavia reached 90 degrees. In fact, 90s were seen a couple of days just a few weeks earlier in mid-July in the same region.
Numerous record highs were also set in western Russia to start the month.
This batch of warmth for Scandinavia comes in part from a dome of high pressure that scooted into the region from Russia as the calendar changed months.
Warm winds from the south on the western periphery of this ridge brought near-record temperatures to much of the region.
In addition to the weather pattern, dry conditions have plagued the region. A once-in-a-generation drought is underway across parts Europe, according to NBC News.
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Water temperatures across northern Europe are also running several degrees above average. The hot weather and warm seas have even allowed the growth of toxic bacteria in the Baltic Sea, according to the Associated Press.
