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According to climatologist Ain Kallis, this December was among the very warmest of the past 50 years, placing 2nd to 3rd as to median temperature.
December among top warmest in half century
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«This winter, provided nothing disrupts it in February, will probably prove to be mild. For over the past 50 years, this December was second-third in warmth,» said the climatologist.
Counting from 1961, the past year was eighth when it comes to warmth.
The climate scientist sees no anomaly in Estonia’s temperatures over these past few years, underlining that such climate fluctuations are an ordinary thing. «Climatologists say: should there be two or three years to this or the other side, being very warm or very cold – this is usual climate fluctuations. Should ten years lean to one side, that’s climate anomaly. And only with 30 years definitely to one side or the other – that’s climate change in one or the other direction, more or less.»
«Should we now have three years with lots of snow, that would not mean the really cold winters are coming back. And as warm winters come our way, we cannot say with assurance that now this is the way we are heading,» said Mr Kallis. «In 1990ies we had periods when we thought we’d have a generation of young people who will not be able to ski at all. Then, the snowy times returned, as is normal around here.»
Jaan Sõrra, heading the Tartu County farmers association, said that grains would perish should snow fall on melted soil. «Right now, the fields are nice and there is no damage. But folk wisdom would say that should snow fall on melted soil, winter cereals may go bad. If snow falls at 1-2 above zero [Celsius – edit], lots of spear may perish,» described Mr Sõrra.