Latvia Braced for Record-Breaking Warm September Temperatures

The upcoming month of September 2021 is set to break records in Latvia, with the average air temperature expected to drop significantly compared to previous years. According to the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVGMC), the average temperature for the entire month is predicted to be a chilly +16 degrees.

This cooling trend is not confined to just the average. The last two days of September 2021 are forecasted to be the coldest days of the month, with the night of Monday, September 30, 2021, predicted to see a sharp temperature drop. In some places in Latvia, the air temperature may even drop slightly below zero Celsius for the first time since May. Riga, the capital city, is expected to experience nighttime temperatures slightly below zero degrees on the 30th.

The first 20 days of September 2021 have already seen a significant drop in temperature, with the average air temperature reported by the LVGMC standing at +17.3 degrees. This drop in temperature has resulted in September 2021 becoming the month with the most temperature records broken this year in Latvia. Since the beginning of the month, 87 heat records have been broken at different locations in the country.

However, this is not the first time September has seen unusual weather patterns in Latvia. September of the previous year held the title of the warmest autumn month in Latvian meteorological history, with an average temperature of +15.8 degrees. In contrast, the previous September record for the highest average temperature was +15.2 degrees, set in 1934.

Looking ahead to September 2023, the trend of breaking records continues. A total of 280 heat records are expected to be broken, with 55 cold records also predicted to be updated. This year, a total of 288 heat records have fallen, but the number of cold records updated is only seven.

If the predicted average temperature for September 2021 holds, it will set a new record. However, with the current cooling trend, it seems that autumn in Latvia is set to be an unusual one.