Jyväskylä catch-up - Cold, a bit wet and first snow on the ground

There are very few leaves on trees around Jyväskylä right now as winter draws closer. Weather since October 10 has been rather cold. It has also been wet at times and mostly grey. Other than the 10.8C maximum on the 11th, the fourth day above 10C this month, temperatures have dropped to some of the lowest seen at this time of year since 2009. Only one day between October 12 and today has climbed above 5C.

As it stands, a figure of four days above 10C would be the second lowest number since 2009. October 2009 saw no days above 10C. 2013 saw 10. Forecasts for next week are fluctuating quite a bit at the moment, but it's likely that there will not be another day above 10C this year.

Cold temperatures have also been recorded during the night in the past week and a half. The current average minimum for the month sits above only 2009. October 17 had temperatures drop to -7.9C. The 18th went even further, dipping below -10C to -10.4C. This was the coldest October temperature seen since at least 2009 and it is by far the earliest date for the first recording below -10C, as shown in the image below. Today's sub-zero maximum of -0.5C is also the earliest date for a maximum below 0C.

Dates for Jyväskylä's first minimum below -10C and maximum below 0C for the previous six winters

The 10C plus temperature from October 11 was accompanied by rain also. Falls mostly in the morning accounted for 13.8mm. No rain was measured between the 13th and 18th, but Sunday October 19 saw a band of widespread rain move east across the country. Jyväskylä Airport managed to record its second highest daily figure seen this year with a total of 26.4mm. The highest daily total was recorded on May 26 when isolated storms dumped 28.1mm. The monthly total for October now stands at 62.9mm, just short of the 1981-2010 average of 66mm.

This morning saw snow on the ground in Jyväskylä centre for the first time this season. Light rain yesterday afternoon turned to snow flurries as the evening wore on. Snow was in isolated patches though and not visible on any roads or paths.

Snow on the ground in Jyväskylä during the afternoon of October 21

Barren and empty trees are visible throughout the city

The coming few days will see very cold October temperatures. It looks like it'll remain below 0C until Friday evening. A maximum of -2.0C from 2012 is the coldest such figure since 2009, but tomorrow or Thursday could beat that. Next week will see a return to warmer temperatures though as a low pressure system moves in, bringing rain along with it.