Meteorological winter in Ukraine shifts: why the cold comes later

According to hvylya.net: Senior researcher of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute Anastasia Chyhareva reported that the meteorological winter in Ukraine now begins not in December, as it used to, but closer to January. This shift in seasons has led to a reduction in the duration of the cold period.

'The duration of the winter period is decreasing, meaning when the daily average temperature falls below zero. Additionally, there is a shift in the seasons by one month. The meteorological winter begins not in December but closer to January and, accordingly, ends in March,'

explained the scientist.

According to Chyhareva, as a result of these changes, the duration of warm seasons is also increasing when temperatures stay above 5-15 degrees, allowing for multiple sowings of various crops in the warm season. Climatic conditions previously characteristic of the south of Ukraine are gradually beginning to shift northward.

Warmest Year

2024 has become the warmest year in Ukraine's history of observations, indicating irreversible changes in the country's climate due to global warming, the scientist emphasized. Temperature regimes previously typical for southern regions are now observed in the north of the country. For example, the average winter temperature in Lviv now compares to the former temperature indicators of Crimea decades ago.

Ukrainian scientists have identified changes in meteorological seasons that indicate a gradual warming of the country's climate. These changes lead to a reduction of the winter period and an increase in the duration of warm seasons, affecting agriculture and natural conditions in Ukraine.