The cold and sleet showers along Greenland’s west coast are completely normal for the time of year, according to Denmark’s Meteorological Institute (DMI).
A stream of cold air from Umimmaat Nunaat (Ellesmere Island, ed.) moves at an altitude of around 10 kilometers towards the west coast of Greenland.
– That is why the weather is colder, and in some places it is snowing, even though it is summer, explains Flemming Geisler-Skou, DMI’s employee in Greenland.
According to DMI, it is not unusual for the west coast to be hit by cold air in periods.
– Climate change is not the cause of the current cold, says Flemming Geisler-Skou.
Europe has a heat wave – Greenland is cold
Although Greenland experiences low temperatures, this is not in conflict with global warming.
According to the DMI, the Earth is not warming equally everywhere. While some areas are warmer than normal, others are colder.
Europe – including Denmark – is currently experiencing temperatures above normal, while Greenland is at the same time colder than normal.
– Due to climate change, heat waves are becoming more frequent and stronger than before, writes Flemming Geisler-Skou.
We also asked DMI whether the cold air is expected to affect the rest of the summer.
However, the institute cannot answer that.
– Regarding the weather for the rest of the summer, we have stopped making forecasts that go so far into the future. We stick to the near future, concludes Flemming Geisler-Skou.
