Russia pressuring with energy weapons
Europe will be warmer than usual this winter
While Russian President Vladimir Putin has thrown Europe into an “energy scare” this winter by using energy as a weapon, good news has come to these countries. This is because the forecast that next winter in Europe will be warmer than usual.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) of the United States reported on the 14th (local time) in a seasonal forecast distributed on the 13th by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) of the European Union (EU), one of the most famous meteorological forecasting organizations in Europe, “For the next three months, the climate will be warmer than normal”. However, he predicted that there could be some cold spells in December.
Meanwhile, Europe has been stockpiling natural gas in preparation for this winter, while Russia has cut off its energy supply. Moreover, each country has judged this winter as an emergency and has prepared various countermeasures.
Indeed, Russian gas, which before the war in Ukraine accounted for 45% of Europe’s gas supply, is now down to less than 10%.
In Slovakia, a central European country, a two-minute shower guideline has been issued, and in Northern Europe, Finland has recommended using the sauna with family and friends.
Most countries, including Germany, France and Denmark, encourage not raising indoor temperatures above 19 degrees in homes, businesses and public buildings. It is also advisable to use household appliances avoiding periods of high energy consumption and to unplug electrical appliances that are not being used.
Denmark has suggested that laundry be dried directly instead of using a tumble dryer and Finland, a “sauna paradise” with a population of 5.5 million and 3 million saunas, is asking people to use the sauna, not only .
Spain continues to keep LNG tankers on standby off its coast as it can no longer fill its depots to stock up on more energy. Germany has decided to extend the life of nuclear power plants and is building a new terminal to smoothly import LNG imported from the United States and the Middle East.
Currently, EU pools are around 95% full, exceeding the European Commission’s 80% target.
However, the weather has been one of the key changes in Europe, as it could be difficult to survive the winter with the current accumulation if a cold snap arrives, much stronger than in previous years.
In such a situation, such a prediction of C3S is good news.
Of course, some point out that it’s too early to be relieved of the prospect that this winter will be warmer than a year earlier because medium- to long-range seasonal forecasts are less accurate than daily or weekly forecasts.
Indeed, late last month, the UK Weather Office predicted that the UK could be slightly colder than normal this winter.
