Sweden’s Summer 2023: A Look Back at the Unusual Weather
As the summer of 2023 comes to an end, meteorologists are reviewing the weather patterns and events that characterized the season. Despite a warm start, the summer overall has been close to normal temperatures for the country. However, it was not without its share of extreme weather.
One of the most significant weather events of the summer was the heavy rainfall and flooding that occurred in large parts of Sweden from August 6-11. A storm named Hans parked over the country, bringing continuous rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms. This resulted in high water levels, flooding, and extremely high flows in waterways, causing significant damage and disruption.
Looking at the temperature patterns, June was notably warmer than normal in most of the country, while July experienced colder temperatures, except in the northern mountain range. When comparing with previous decades, the summer of 2023 had a similar temperature excess as in the years 2019-2022, with a slight difference compared to last year when the excess temperature was mainly found in the southeast.
Precipitation was a significant factor during the summer. June started with a dry spell, being the driest June in over a century in some areas, including Uppsala. However, the latter part of the summer saw extensive rainfall, setting daily, monthly, and even seasonal records in several locations. The highest recorded rainfall was 539.2 mm in Klövsjöhöjden in Jämtland. Some areas in southern and central Sweden also reported new record totals for summer rainfall.
The summer of 2023 also experienced contrasting wind patterns. June was characterized by high-pressure systems and light winds, while July saw more windy conditions due to low-pressure weather. In early August, the storm named Hans brought fresh to strong winds along the west coast and the Norrland coast, causing gusts of up to 27.9 m/s and extensive tree felling in some areas.
Snowfall, which is normal during the winter months, was not reported during the summer. As for sunshine hours, the summer as a whole had a slightly below-average number of hours, with no record-breaking figures reported.
In terms of thunderstorms, they were observed in June and intensified during the first half of August. The storm system associated with Hans resulted in over 50,000 recorded lightning discharges, particularly along the east coast and parts of Norrland.
Overall, the summer of 2023 brought a mix of extreme weather events, from heavy rainfall and flooding to contrasting temperature and wind patterns. It serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of weather and the importance of staying prepared for varying conditions.