Midsummer heat is moving in over Norrland in the coming days when the maximum daytime temperature is expected to reach between 26 and 33 degrees locally in Västernorrland County, the eastern part of Jämtland County, and large parts of Västerbotten and Norrbotten counties.
The heat is expected to persist until Thursday, July 18, according to SMHI, which has issued a yellow warning for high temperatures of at least 30 degrees in the inner parts of Västerbotten, Jämtland, and Västernorrland counties. The warning applies from tomorrow Tuesday and for Wednesday and Thursday.
No heat record
Although the temperatures rise above normal for the season, they do not reach the record heat in the area in the summer of 1945, when it was 34.9 degrees Celsius in Piteå and 36.9 degrees warm in Harads – an urban area in Boden Municipality located between Jokkmokk and Boden.
In Sweden, heat records can be old, notes Sverker Hellström, climate scientist at SMHI – but since 1997, the occasions when it has been hot or very hot in the country have become more frequent.
All summers in Sweden since the millennium shift have been warmer than normal, with the exception of two years – 2000 and 2012, says Sverker Hellström.
A single heat wave is not the final proof of climate change, on the other hand, an increased temperature on more occasions over a long period is a sign of climate change which in turn is due to increased greenhouse gases, says Sverker Hellström further.
Warning for forest fire
SMHI's yellow warnings for high temperatures mean an appeal to be aware of the body's warning signals, both in oneself and others. One should also drink water, take it easy, keep an eye on the indoor temperature, and find ways to cool down.
SMHI has also issued several warnings for forest fires in large parts of central and northern Norrland and in northeastern Götaland, from Mönsterås in the south to Norrköping in the north on Tuesday.
Firefighting helicopters have been put on standby in Västmanland, Jämtland, and Västerbotten counties by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, MSB, with two helicopters each placed in each county.
