Europe Breaks Historic Low Temperature Records As Rare Spring Snow Falls On Major Cities; + Establishment Obfuscations

"Absolutely historic" cold is striking Europe, with the French Riviera posting late-April temperatures that "probably haven't happened since the Little Ice Age".

Europe Breaks Historic Low Temperature Records As Rare Spring Snow Falls On Major Cities

Europe has endured a violent swing between extremes this month.

"April 2024 will go down as one of the most incredible flips on record ... Summer to winter for some," so say the experts.

Following a spell of anomalous spring warmth, exceptional cold is now striking the likes of Italy where dozens of low temperature records have fallen (for the time of year).

Italians have been enduring some of the coldest daily highs in books dating back 100+ years, to 1873. And even at low elevations, Tmaxes have struggled to 7C (44.6F).

"Absolutely historic," writes @extremetemps on X.

In France, the southern city of Nice, with 4.4C (39.9F), has set it lowest late-April temperature since 1951. Technically that's true, but that 1951 reading was actually set at night. Monday's 4.4C occurred during the day which, according to researchers, "probably hasn't happened [in the French Riviera] since the Little Ice Age."

Similarly in Denmark's capital Copenhagen, a very cold day was endured there. "When the final numbers are in it may turn out to have been the second-coldest day in 250 years this late in the spring," writes local weather researcher Sebastian Pelt (certainly the coldest since 1941). Elsewhere, Jægersborg's 2.7C (36.9F) made for Denmark's lowest daily max this late since 1988.

Tryvannshøgda, Norway posted -4.4C (24.1F) overnight Monday, the lowest temperature so late in spring since 1973.

As well as one of the coldest late-April's on record, this will go down as one of Europe's snowiest, and all. Nations have gone from summer-like warmth to heavy late-season snow in a matter of days.