Samelova Luka, Slovakia: -22,2°C!

Only in the last article, we were informed about anomalous temperatures up to -33,3°C in the Jura region, Switzerland, around 1200 MASL /https://mkweather.com/amburnex-combe-switzerland-333c-the-strongest-frosts-of-winter-2021-2022-in-continental-europe-so-far//, the coldest times in France since 2012 /https://mkweather.com/avignon-france-with-the-coldest-period-since-the-legendary-winter-2011-2012// and frosts up to almost -25°C in Czechia /https://mkweather.com/czechian-valleys-very-close-to-25c-30c-possibility-on-23-and-34-december-2021//.

In a series of 7 Mkweather articles, before articles from the world, we will look at extremely cold morning, 22. December 2021 in parts of Europe and many regional temperature records or very low measured minimum temperatures.

In the next articles, we will look at Serbia, Germany, and Austria, which attacked -20°C in densely populated regions, cold weather in Eastern Europe and the Baltic region, and frosts below -10°C in the UK and almost in Benelux, too.

After the Czechian valleys, where was around 2°C colder than in Slovakian, we will shift into central Slovakia and in the next article to Poland, where the first -20,0°C of Winter 2021/2022 was measured (the next Mkweater article).

Samelova Luka, the station below 1000 MASL in the Gemer region, east-central Slovakia was again the coldest station within known sites in Slovakia.

Already in early December 2021, -18,0°C was here measured /https://mkweather.com/dobsinska-ladova-jaskyna-slovakia-180c-austria-168c// and in the next 2 nights, frosts around -25°C are possible, while Siberian blast after 31. December should bring temperatures below -30°C at the station.

On 22. December 2021, -22,2°C was at the station measured (close station of SHMU reported -19,4°C), which is the lowest temperature in Slovakia in Winter 2021/2022, so far.

From densely populated regions, very cold was in Liesek, -16,7°C or Poprad, -16,2°C, from lowlands in Milhostov, southeastern Slovakia, -10,0°C.

The region of Horehronie or Gemer have currently one of the highest snow covers in Slovakia, reaching in Samelova Luka almost 30 cm, which should be an important factor of declining temperatures.

The next 2 mornings at the station will be on our watch.

The coldest temperatures since 1987 were in Slovakia measured in January 2017, when Oravská Lesná surprised with -35,6°C (all-time Slovakian record -41,0°C from Vígľaš-Pstruša from 1929).

It´s quite possible, that until 10. January, temperatures below -30,0°C will appear in Slovakia.

While the first 2 decades of December 2021 were in European mid-latitudes relatively milder /https://mkweather.com/esrl-composites-for-europe-for-the-first-4-pentads-of-december-2021-early-winter//, already around Christmas and New Year 2021-2022 is 40% chance, that AO index will fall extremely low, into the interval -5/-7 /https://mkweather.com/12-30-runs-of-gefs-expect-an-extremely-low-ao-index-from-5-to-7-for-christmas-time-and-new-year//.

This destabilization of polar vortex should be associated with extreme blizzards across Europe /https://mkweather.com/gfs-expects-extreme-blizzards-in-europe-regionally-20-70-cm-locally-up-to-1-meter-of-snow-possible// and according to the newest outputs, parts of the eastern half of the continent should until New Year receive 30-70, regionally up to 1 meter of snowfall.

Just for these areas, a current GFS returned abnormally cold weather around 5. January 2022 /https://mkweather.com/frost-inferno-for-poland-ukraine-romania-its-abnormal-30c-40c// /agrees with our long-term outlook /https://mkweather.com/the-long-term-forecast-for-europe-until-30-january-2022/; https://mkweather.com/the-long-term-snow-forecast-for-europe-until-30-january-2022//.

Extremely cold air is shifting eastward and already on 23. – 24. December 2021, frosts below -25°C will be possible e.g. in Czechian frost valleys and in interval -20/-25°C in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Poland, Baltic region, Ukraine, Romania, or other countries in northern Balkan.

An Arctic Ice Sea Extent was in the last period the 2nd highest in the last 15 years /https://mkweather.com/arctic-sea-ice-extent-is-the-2nd-highest-in-15-years//, moreover, La Nina is ongoing and strong AO- and NAO- are expected, together with wet MJO above SE Asia and negative IOD (additional factors).

An absolute peak of Winter 2021/2022 however, is forecast between 31. December 2021 – 9. January 2022, so far /https://mkweather.com/the-long-term-forecast-for-europe-until-30-january-2022/; https://mkweather.com/the-long-term-snow-forecast-for-europe-until-30-january-2022//.

Classic warnings before a worsening of health problems such as hypothermia, virological situation, heart attacks, such as power outages, uprooted trees ar problems in travel are expected.

Therefore stay safe and warm.