January 2017 European cold wave
{{short description|Period of cold weather in Central and Eastern Europe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox storm
|name=January 2017 European cold wave
|image=P za d Aracoeli, ghiaccioli alla fontana P1130785.jpg
|caption=A frozen fountain in Rome on 7 January 2017
|stormtype=Cold wave
|pressure=
|lowest temperature={{convert|-45.4|°C|1}} in Oparino, Russia{{cite web|url=http://www.meteovesti.ru/news/63619645752-poteplenie-priblizhaetsya|title=Потепление приближается|trans-title=The warming is coming|language=ru|access-date=11 January 2017}}
|maximum amount=
|casualties=73+ deaths{{cite web|url=http://m.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11780904|title=Cold blast in Europe blamed for 73 deaths|access-date=25 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202085218/http://m.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11780904|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://m.newsok.com/article/feed/1146989|title=Lowest temperatures in decades in parts of eastern Europe|publisher=NewsOK|date=11 January 2017|author=Alison Mutler|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-date=12 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912114957/https://oklahoman.com/article/feed/1146989/lowest-temperatures-in-decades-in-parts-of-eastern-europe|url-status=dead}}
|areas affected=Eastern Europe, Central Europe, Italy, Turkey
}}
{{Expand German|date=August 2018}}
A period of exceptionally cold and snowy winter weather in January 2017 occurred in Eastern and Central Europe. In some areas, flights and shipping services were suspended, and there was major disruption to power supplies and other essential infrastructure.{{cite news |author=Kevin Rawlinson|title= Freezing conditions cause death and chaos across Europe|url=https://www.theguardian.com/weather/2017/jan/08/freezing-conditions-cause-death-and-chaos-across-europe|newspaper=The Guardian |location= London|date=9 January 2017 |access-date=9 January 2017 |language=en}} The weather was the result of stationary high pressure over western Europe, resulting in strong winds circulating from Russia and Scandinavia towards eastern Europe.{{cite news |author=Everton Fox|title= Winter digs in across Central and Eastern Europe|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/winter-digs-central-eastern-europe-170107092025356.html|publisher=Al Jazeera |date=7 January 2017 |access-date=9 January 2017 |language=en}} On 9 January, the Continental Arctic (cA) air mass extended from Germany across the Balkans, resulting in deep snow in Greece and strong bora winds affecting Croatia in particular. In addition, heavy snow in central and Southern Italy was the result of cold air flowing across the warmer Adriatic Sea.{{cite web | url =http://www.severe-weather.eu/recent-events/review-of-arctic-outbreak-with-lots-of-snow-across-balkan-peninsula-and-italy-jan-5-8-2017/|title=Review of arctic outbreak with extreme cold, severe Bora winds and lots of snow across Balkan peninsula and S-CNTRL Italy, Jan 5-8, 2017|work=Severe Weather Europe| date=8 January 2017| access-date =10 January 2017 |language=en}} At least 73 deaths were attributed to the cold wave.
Affected areas
During the first week of 2017, 46 (mainly homeless) people died from the cold in Poland,{{cite web|title=Mróz w Polsce wciąż zabija. Od listopada zmarło już 61 osób|url=http://tvnmeteo.tvn24.pl/informacje-pogoda/polska,28/mroz-w-polsce-wciaz-zabija-od-listopada-zmarlo-juz-61-osob,190141,1,0.html|website=TVN24|publisher=ITI Polska|access-date=10 January 2017|language=pl|archive-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116200304/http://tvnmeteo.tvn24.pl/informacje-pogoda/polska,28/mroz-w-polsce-wciaz-zabija-od-listopada-zmarlo-juz-61-osob,190141,1,0.html|url-status=dead}} when temperatures fell below {{convert|-20|C}}.{{cite news |title=Snowstorms hold mainland Europe in an icy grip as scores succumb to bitterly cold weather |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/07/snowstorms-hold-mainland-europe-icy-grip-scores-succumb-bitterly/|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location= London|date=9 January 2017 |access-date=9 January 2017 |language=en}} Free public transport was provided in Warsaw, Kraków and Kielce because of the smog caused by the cold weather.{{cite news |author= |title= Europe cold weather death toll rises|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38554357 |publisher=BBC News |date=9 January 2017 |access-date=9 January 2017 |language=en}} Wrocław was also affected by smog with air quality in the area dropping to critical levels. Seven cold-related deaths were reported in Italy as of 9 January, mainly of homeless people, and parts of the country experienced exceptional falls of snow, high winds and freezing temperatures. Several airports were closed, including those in Sicily, Bari and Brindisi. Ice formed on the Adriatic Sea, and schools in the south of the country were closed.{{cite web |url=http://forbeautifullife.com/cold-wave-kills-at-least-20-across-europe/ |title=Cold wave kills at least 20 across Europe |publisher=Forbeautifullife.com |date=9 January 2017 |language=en |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111003638/http://forbeautifullife.com/cold-wave-kills-at-least-20-across-europe/ |archive-date=11 January 2017 }} On 10 January, shipping was halted along a {{convert|900|km|abbr=on}} stretch of the Danube in Romania, Croatia and Serbia, because of the icy conditions.[https://weather.com/news/news/europe-snow-january-2017-turkey-italy Associated Press, "Deep Freeze Gripping Europe Causes 61 Deaths, Halts Shipping", 11 January 2017, weather.com]. Retrieved 25 January 2017
File:Lánchíd és a Duna jegesedése.jpg in Budapest on 9 January]]
Eight deaths from the cold were reported in the Czech Republic, mainly of homeless people. The bodies of three migrants were found near the border between Bulgaria and Turkey. Médecins Sans Frontières raised concerns about the risk to migrants, especially around 2,000 people living in Belgrade. The Bosphorus was closed to shipping after a snowstorm that also affected services in Istanbul, Turkey, where more than 650 flights were grounded. Blizzards affected Bulgaria and also parts of Romania and Ukraine, and shipping on the Danube was suspended.
File:Winter in Bucharest.jpg causes major disruption to the traffic (11 January).]]
Temperatures fell to {{convert|-20|C|F|}} in Greece, where the National Observatory of Athens referred to the weather phenomenon as Ariadne (after the goddess Ariadne).{{cite web |url=http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2017/01/04/low-ariadne-moves-siberia-to-greece-temperature-down-to-20c/ |title=Low 'Ariadne' moves Siberia to Greece. Temperature down to -20C |work=Keep Talking Greece |date=5 January 2017 |access-date=10 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108200201/http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2017/01/04/low-ariadne-moves-siberia-to-greece-temperature-down-to-20c/ |archive-date=8 January 2017 |url-status=dead }} Greek authorities decided in 2016 in Greece to name extreme weather phenomena starting from January 2017; Ariadne was the first weather phenomenon to receive a name.{{cite web |url=http://www.altsantiri.gr/ellada/meteorologi-exigoun-giati-onomasan-kyma-kakokerias-ariadni/ |title=Μετεωρολόγοι εξηγούν γιατί ονόμασαν το κύμα κακοκαιρίας "Αριάδνη" |trans-title=Meteorologists explain why named the wave of bad weather 'Ariadne' |publisher=altsantiri.gr |date=9 January 2017 |language=el |access-date=10 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112093030/http://www.altsantiri.gr/ellada/meteorologi-exigoun-giati-onomasan-kyma-kakokerias-ariadni/ |archive-date=12 January 2017 |url-status=dead }} The whole country was blanketed by unusually heavy snowfall, causing huge problems in transport. Snow even fell in Athens and Santorini. One migrant died of cold, and many migrants on islands in the Aegean Sea were moved into heated tents as the area was covered in snow. The authorities opened three Athens Metro tube stations to homeless people to help protect them from the cold.{{cite web |url=http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2017/01/05/athens-three-metro-stations-open-all-night-for-the-homeless-jan-6-92017/ |title=Athens: Three metro stations open all night for the Homeless Jan 6-9/2017 |work=Keep Talking Greece |date=5 January 2017 |language=en |access-date=10 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107115523/http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2017/01/05/athens-three-metro-stations-open-all-night-for-the-homeless-jan-6-92017/ |archive-date=7 January 2017 |url-status=dead }} Road and public transport in the country were also disrupted. On 10 January, it was announced that in Thessaloniki in the province of Macedonia only 130 buses out of 480–500 operated by Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organisation were in operational condition.{{cite web |url=http://www.altsantiri.gr/ellada/thessaloniki-avrio-tha-kykloforisoun-mono-ta-130-apo-ta-480-leoforia/ |title=Θεσσαλονίκη: Αύριο θα κυκλοφορήσουν μόνο τα 130 από τα 480 λεωφορεία |trans-title=Thessaloniki: Tomorrow they will release only 130 of the 480 buses |publisher=altsantiri.gr |date=10 January 2017 |language=el |access-date=10 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113013646/http://www.altsantiri.gr/ellada/thessaloniki-avrio-tha-kykloforisoun-mono-ta-130-apo-ta-480-leoforia/ |archive-date=13 January 2017 |url-status=dead }} The islands of Euboea, Skopelos and Alonnisos declared a state of emergency after serious power failures and collapse of traffic due to snowfall.{{cite web|last1=Carassava|first1=Anthee|title=Greek islands declare state of emergency after heavy snow|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/greek-islands-declare-state-of-emergency-after-heavy-snow-tgww532dp|website=The Times|access-date=12 January 2017|location=London|date=9 January 2017}} Mytilene on the island of Lesbos recorded a low of {{convert|-5.7|C}} on 7 January,{{sfn|Anagnostopoulou et al|2017|pp=4-5}} a temperature expected to occur on average once in 300 years in current climatic conditions.{{sfn|Anagnostopoulou et al|2017|p=7}} January 2017 overall mean monthly temperature was {{convert|4.7|C-change}} below average in Mytilene and Bucharest, and many weather stations reported monthly means more than {{convert|3|C-change}} below average.{{sfn|Anagnostopoulou et al|2017|p=3}}
Deaths were also reported in Russia and Ukraine. Temperatures in some parts of European Russia fell to below {{convert|-40|C}}, setting records across the region. About 100,000 residents of settlements in Moscow Oblast such as Lyubertsy, Lytkarino, Dzerzhinsky and Kotelniki lost electricity due to extremely harsh temperatures.{{cite web |url=https://lubertsyriamo.ru/article/36376/elektrichestvo-nachali-podavat-v-doma-kotorye-ostalis-bez-sveta-v-lyubertsah.xl |title=Электричество начали подавать в дома, которые остались без света в Люберцах |trans-title=Power returned to houses in blacked out areas in Lyubertsy |publisher=Lubertsyriamo.ru |language=ru |access-date=10 January 2017 |archive-date=13 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113054144/https://lubertsyriamo.ru/article/36376/elektrichestvo-nachali-podavat-v-doma-kotorye-ostalis-bez-sveta-v-lyubertsah.xl |url-status=dead }} On 11 January, the cold wave reached Albania, with temperatures reaching {{convert|-22|C}} and supplies being flown in by army helicopters, mainly in the city of Gjirokastër and the nation's capital Tirana.{{cite web|url=http://top-channel.tv/lajme/galeri.php?id=17539&foto=2#g|title=Gjirokastra nën petkun e dëborës - Foto Lajm - Top Channel|access-date=11 January 2017 |language=sq}}
On 16 January, it was reported that the electricity prices in Europe were at their highest since 2008 as a result of power outages and increased demand. Romanian Energy Minister, Toma Petcu, suggested that, if coal consumption remained high, reserves held by the country's two major producers would only last for four days.[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-16/european-power-prices-jump-as-extreme-cold-grips-paris-to-berlin Weixin Zha, "Europe Power Prices Jump as Cold Snap Grips Paris to Berlin", Bloomberg.com, 16 January 2017]. Retrieved 25 January 2017
Temperature records
File:Christmas night 2 (32170785305).jpg
7 January was reported to be the coldest Orthodox Christmas in Moscow in 120 years, at {{convert|-29.9|C}}. The lowest temperature in western Europe was recorded in the Swiss village of La Brévine, also at {{convert|-29.9|C}} on 6 January.{{cite web | url =https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/europe-weather-winter-snow-freezing-temperatures-multiple-deaths-travel-chaos-belgium-poland-italy-a7515351.html|title=Freezing temperatures cause multiple deaths and travel chaos across Europe|work=The Independent| date=7 January 2017| access-date =10 January 2017 |language=en}} On 8 January a low temperature record for this day in Hungary was set in Tésa, at {{convert|-28.1|C}}.{{cite web | url =http://hungarytoday.hu/news/cold-winter-hits-hungary-temperature-sinks-ime-record-low-64741|title=Hungary Freezes in Coldest Days of Winter So Far As Temperature Sinks To Record Low|publisher=Hungary Today| date=9 January 2017| access-date =10 January 2017 |language=en}} On the same day a record low temperature was measured in Tver Oblast, Russia, at {{convert|-35.7|C}}, which surpassed the previous 1987 record for that day.{{cite web | url = http://tver.glavny.tv/news/45821|title=В Тверской области установлен температурный рекорд |trans-title=New temperature record was set in Tver Oblast.|publisher=Tver.glavny.tv| language=ru| access-date =10 January 2017}} Kirov plummeted to {{convert|-38.3|C}} on 8 January too.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/monitor.php?id=27199&month=1&year=2017|title=Погода в Кирове - климатический монитор за январь 2017 года}}
= Minimum Temperatures measured during the cold wave =
{{Cleanup|section|reason=The temperatures given in this list are wildly inaccurate (far too low)|date=October 2022}}
- Rome: -2°C (7th Jan, 0750 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Rome, Italy |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/italy/rome/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Florence: -7°C (9th Jan, 0750 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Firenze, Italy |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/italy/firenze/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Naples: -5°C (8th Jan, 0550 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Naples, Italy |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/italy/naples/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Milan: -6°C (7th Jan, 0720 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Milan, Italy |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/italy/milan/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Athens: -1°C (9th Jan, 0500 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Athens, Greece |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/greece/athens/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Zurich: -12°C (7th Jan, 0400 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/switzerland/zurich/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Bern: -17°C (6th Jan, 0820 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Bern, Bern, Switzerland |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/switzerland/bern/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Dresden: -12°C (6th Jan, 0450 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Dresden, Saxony, Germany |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/germany/dresden/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Moscow: -30°C (7th Jan, 0900 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Moscow, Russia |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/russia/moscow/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Vienna: -14°C (7th Jan, 0450 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Vienna, Vienna, Austria |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/austria/vienna/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Budapest: -22°C (8th Jan, 0400 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Budapest, Hungary |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/hungary/budapest/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Ljubljana: -13°C (11th Jan, 0600 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Ljubljana, Slovenia |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/slovenia/ljubljana/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Prague: -16°C (7th Jan, 0400 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Prague, Czechia |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/czech-republic/prague/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Bratislava: -14°C (11th Jan, 0130 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Bratislava, Slovakia |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/slovakia/bratislava/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Belgrade: -15°C (8th Jan, 0700 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Belgrade, Serbia |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/serbia/belgrade/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Sarajevo: -26°C (8th Jan, 0630 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/bosnia-herzegovina/sarajevo/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Riga: -21°C (7th Jan, 0220 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Riga, Latvia |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/latvia/riga/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Warsaw: -20°C (7th Jan, 0800 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Warsaw, Poland |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/poland/warsaw/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Minsk: -26°C (7th Jan, 0800 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Minsk, Belarus |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/belarus/minsk/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Kyiv: -19°C (7th Jan, 0800 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Kyiv, Ukraine |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/ukraine/kyiv/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Bitola: -23°C (8th Jan, 0700 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Bitola, North Macedonia |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/republic-of-macedonia/bitola/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Sofia: -16°C (11th Jan, 0800 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Sofia, Bulgaria |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/bulgaria/sofia/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Malovište: -23°C (8th Jan, 0700 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Malovište, North Macedonia |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/@788192/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Pristina: -22°C (8th Jan, 0700 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Pristina, Kosovo |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/kosovo/pristina/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Vilnius: -23°C (7th Jan, 0550 hrs) {{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Vilnius, Lithuania |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/lithuania/vilnius/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
- Mitrovica: -22°C (8th Jan, 0700 hrs){{Cite web |title=Weather in January 2017 in Komuna e Mitrovicës, Kosovo |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/@785059/historic?month=1&year=2017 |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en}}
Deaths
At least 61 people died in relation to the cold, many of them migrants or homeless. Approximately one-third of the deaths were in Poland; others took place in Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, and North Macedonia.{{cite news|publisher=USA Today|date=10 January 2017|access-date=18 January 2017|title=Dozens killed by Europe's coldest weather in years|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2017/01/10/bitter-cold-kills-dozens-europe/96404042/}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
= Sources =
- {{cite journal |last1=Anagnostopoulou |first1=Christina |last2=Tolika |first2=Konstantia |last3=Lazoglou |first3=Georgia |last4=Maheras |first4=Panagiotis |title=The Exceptionally Cold January of 2017 over the Balkan Peninsula: A Climatological and Synoptic Analysis |journal=Atmosphere |date=December 2017 |volume=8 |issue=12 |page=252 |doi=10.3390/atmos8120252 |ref={{SfnRef|Anagnostopoulou et al|2017}}|bibcode=2017Atmos...8..252. |doi-access=free }}