Ukraine's Weather Service Expects Milder Winter, but Frosts Possible

Winter temperatures in Ukraine this year may be slightly above the climate norm, but frosts should not be ruled out, Natalia Ptukha, head of the media communications department at the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, said at a briefing at Ukrinform.

Winter 1-2 degrees above the norm

"The global hydrometeorological community is now leaning toward the view that for our territory, Eastern Europe, and directly for Ukraine, and our center's specialists also see this in their preliminary calculations, the winter months may be above the climate norm. In principle, that is good. According to current calculations, they may be 1-2 degrees above the climate norm," Ptukha said.

She noted that, according to preliminary calculations, the cold period this year is expected to be dominated by Atlantic, that is, classic western, transport of air masses. "This will contribute to temperatures being above the climate norm in most winter months," she said.

But cold snaps remain possible

"But our territory is situated in such a way that quite different processes can happen. Periods of cold can still occur, that is, incursions of cold Arctic air. These periods may be shorter and not as long-lasting [as before], but the preconditions for them always remain," Ptukha said. "We have practically never had winters without these Arctic invasions. They come with different intensity and different duration. Recently their duration has been shortening, but we still need to be ready for frosty temperatures."

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