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04.03.2022

Climate characteristic of winter 2021/2022

The average air temperature in the winter season 2021/2022 was -1.8°С, which is 1.6°С above the climatic norm. The past winter season was ranked 11th in a ranked series of observations from the warmest to the coldest since 1881.

Deviation of the average monthly air temperature of the winter season

from the climatic norm (-3.4ºС) in the Republic of Belarus

In most of the country's territory, the positive anomaly of seasonal air temperature reached 1.5ºС and more. The smallest positive deviations are noted in the north (1.0ºС and less).

Deviation (°C) of the average air temperature of the winter season

from the climatic norm on the territory of Belarus

The largest positive deviations of air temperature from the climatic norm were noted on the territory of the Brest and Gomel regions (average for each region +1.9ºС), the smallest - in the territory of the Vitebsk region (average for the region +1.2°С). The temperature regime of the winter season was non-uniform: the average December temperature was below the norm by 1.0°C. January and February were warm with a positive anomaly of 2.0 and 3.8°C, respectively.

Average air temperature and climatic norm by months

of winter season 2021/2022 in the Republic of Belarus

The average air temperature in Belarus for the first winter month was -3.5°C, which is 1.0°C below the climatic norm. The maximum air temperature for the month was recorded at Vysokoye station on December 31 and amounted to +9.5°С. The minimum temperature value (-23.5°C) was recorded at Ezerishche station on December 8.

The beginning of the climatic winter (the transition of the average daily air temperature through 0°С downwards) took place mainly in the third decade of November - the first decade of December, and in the extreme southwest - at the end of the second decade of December.

The average air temperature in Belarus in January 2022 was -2.1°C, which is 2.0°C higher than the climatic norm. The first month of 2022 was ranked 17th in a ranked observation series from the warmest to the coldest since 1881. The air temperature reached its maximum value (+9.9°C) on January 1 at Vysokoye station. The minimum air temperature was recorded at Kostyukovichi station on January 13 and amounted to -23.8°C, reaching the absolute minimum for the season.

The average air temperature in Belarus in February 2022 was 0.3°C, which is 3.8°C above the climatic norm. The second month of 2022 was ranked 8th in a ranked observation series from the warmest to the coldest since 1945. The air temperature reached its maximum value (+10.3°C) on February 16 at Vysokoye station; this temperature value is the maximum for the past season. The minimum air temperature was recorded at Ezerishche station on February 4 and amounted to -21.7°C.

A steady upward transition of the average daily air temperature through 0°C (the end of climatic winter) occurred in most of the territory in the first or second decade of February that 3-4 weeks earlier than usual. In the south-west of the country - at the end of January - almost a month earlier than the average multi-year periods.

During the winter, an average of 150 mm of precipitation fell across the country, which is 122% of the climatic norm for the season. Excess precipitation was observed over most of the country's territory, reaching a maximum in the region of the Novogrudok Upland -260 mm or 171% of the seasonal norm.

Deviation (%) of the monthly amount of precipitation for the winter season

from the climatic norm on the territory of Belarus

In the regional section, the largest amount of precipitation was recorded on the territory of the Grodno and Mogilev regions (160 and 158 mm, respectively, or 125 and 136% of the winter season norm). The smallest - in the Brest region - 125 mm or 111% of the norm.

Precipitation for the winter of 2021/2022 and climate normal

by regions and territory of Belarus

During the winter on the territory of Belarus, precipitation fell unevenly - a slight shortage of precipitation was observed in December (95% of the norm), excessive moisture - in January (169% of the norm). In February, the amount of precipitation for the month was close to the norm (104% of the norm).

Precipitation and climate norm by months of winter 2021/2022

In winter precipitation fell mainly in the form of snow, sleet and rain. In December, the snow cover was repeatedly established for a short time and destroyed. In January, in the first half of the month, the snow cover over most of the territory of Belarus was also repeatedly formed and destroyed, in the second half, for the most part of the country, the snow cover was stable. In the first and second decades of February, most of the country's territory, with the exception of the western and southern regions, remained covered with snow. In the third decade, snow cover remained in most of the Vitebsk, Minsk and Mogilev regions and at individual stations in the Grodno region, but was absent in the rest of the territory. The height of the snow cover on the last day of the season ranged from 0.1 cm (Dokshitsy, Oshmyany, Borisov, Mogilev) to 25 cm (Mstislavl). There was no snow cover in the west, southwest and south of the country. Fog, blizzards, icy spots and ice-covered ground, sticking of wet snow were observed on some days of winter, thunderstorms were noted in some places.

During the winter season, sometimes there was an increase in wind speed with gusts up to 15 m/s or more. On January 14-18 and in the second half of February, the maximum wind speed at some observation points reached the criterion of a dangerous phenomenon. The maximum wind speed for the season was recorded on January 14 at Polesskaya station and amounted to 32 m/s.