Average temperatures in January were up to 12 degrees Celsius above normal in parts of the country.

It is supposed to be snowy and freezing cold across the world’s largest land power. But this January was something out of the ordinary.

Russia in January 2020 saw national average temperatures climb above zero. And practically the whole country experiences temperatures far higher than normal.

January 2020 smashed the previous monthly average record from 2007 by 1,5 degrees, the Russian meteorological service Roshydromet informs.

Across large parts the country’s northwest, the average temperature was between 8-10 degrees Celsius higher than normal. And the situation was the most extreme in a part of central Siberia where average temperatures hiked up to 12 degrees above normal.

Higher temperatures across Arctic Europe

Along most parts of the Russian Arctic coast, average temperatures were between 2-4 degrees higher than normal.

Mapping conducted by the World Meteorological Organization show that Russia is one of the countries with highest rise in average temperatures. January 2020 shows extreme temperatures across major parts of the country.

However, not only Russia was far warmer than normal in January. Almost the whole of Scandinavia experienced a mid-winter month with plus temperatures and snowless streets.

According to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, January 2020 was the second warmest on record.

Average temperatures in the country were 6,1 degrees Celsius above normal.

Researchers at at the meteorological institute say the trend is in line with their forecasts for the future. It will get both warmer and wetter, they underline.

Related stories from around the North:

Canada: Global ocean temperatures hit new record highs in 2019 causing devastating effects in the Arctic, Eye on the Arctic

Finland: 40 C temperature gap between northern and southern Finland, Yle News

Norway: Temperatures on Svalbard have been above normal for 100 straight months, The Independent Barents Observer

Russia: Russian climate report stresses adaptation but no reduction in fossil fuel extraction, The Independent Barents Observer

Sweden: January temperatures about 10°C above normal in parts of northern Sweden, says weather service, Radio Sweden

United States: Temperatures nearing all-time records in Southcentral Alaska, Alaska Public Media