Climate change: less snow and frost in Ukraine
Extremely cold winters with strong frosts and a large amount of snow are slowly becoming rare in Ukraine.
This was reported in an interview with RBK-Ukraine by senior scientific fellow of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute and scientific fellow of the National Antarctic Scientific Center, Anastasia Chyhareva.
'Trends show that cold air pockets are becoming weaker and rarer, therefore extreme snow and extreme frosts do not pose a threat to Ukraine. They are possible, but their frequency and intensity will decrease,' – the scientist explained.
'The likelihood of severe frost events is decreasing because the planet is generally warming,' – Chyhareva emphasized.
The scientist noted that global warming directly affects winter conditions in Ukraine. The duration of the winter period with frost is noticeably decreasing, and it starts closer to January than December. The duration of meteorological winter is shortening, ending in March.
Anastasia Chyhareva recalled the last example of a warm winter in Ukraine when at the same time the USA experienced severe frosts and snowfalls. Such sharp changes are related to the pushing of warm air masses north, where the polar cyclone is usually located.
The scientist also confirmed that 2024 has entered the history of Ukraine as the warmest year, which confirms the overall trend of climate warming.
Certain global climate trends, which the scientist points out, indicate a noticeable decrease in extreme snowfalls and frosts in Ukraine, as well as the emergence of warm winters and sharp changes in meteorological conditions. These changes may have a significant impact on the future climate of the country, requiring adaptation to new conditions.