Mild December continues for Jyväskylä, cooler in Sydney

The start of December for 2014 has been rather warm for Jyväskylä compared to historically typical weather seen at this time of the year. Persistent and mild southerly winds have kept temperatures up and precipitation has been seen on nine of the 11 days so far.

Current averages for Jyväskylä are sitting at their highest level in comparison to the first 11 days of Decembers between 2008 and 2013. Only December 1 failed to go above zero and with every other day surpassing 1C, the average maximum sits at 2.2C. After 11 days of December only 2011 in the years since 2008 had seen a comparable figure of nine days above 0C. 2010 and 2012 didn't see any.

December 4's daily maximum of 4.3C sits as the highest of the month so far. It was the highest temperature seen in three weeks. 2009, 2012 and 2013 all recorded December maximums higher than that though.

Similar to those seen in November and December last year, a strong storm associated with a low pressure system has been causing dangerous weather conditions in the North Sea. The storm, named Alexandra, has been moving from Greenland in a southeasterly direction since earlier this week. It brought very heavy snow and wild winds over 150km/h to Iceland yesterday. The capital, Reykjavik, recorded a gust at 111km/h. This video taken there yesterday shows the blizzard conditions experienced.

Synoptic chart and temperatures for Europe at 2pm Finnish time on December 10
Source: Finnish Meteorological Institute

The United Kingdom and Ireland have been seeing the effects of the storm as well with strong winds, damaging waves and rain and snow. In Finland, strong southerly winds are being experienced throughout most of the country. Wind gusts in Jyväskylä topped 50km/h yesterday evening, some of the strongest seen for quite some time. Areas of Vaajakoski, 10km from the centre of Jyväskylä, lost power as a result of the winds.

Snow fell in Jyväskylä last night but temperatures above 2C today have melted almost all of it. Today is the seventh consecutive day on which precipitation has been recorded. So far this year there have been four other periods of seven or more consecutive days of precipitation at Tikkakoski. Falls haven't been especially high though. December 6's 5.1mm stands as the highest daily total of the month at the moment.

Strong southerly winds were experienced in Sydney today also. A gust of 80km/h was recorded at the Airport this afternoon at 1:36pm. It was the strongest since November 16. The winds helped keep temperatures down too. With a top of 23.1C, it was the coolest maximum in two weeks. Late evening temperatures dropped to 17.1C, also the coolest minimum seen since late November.

The cooler temperatures were accompanied by showers as well. Sydney Airport recorded 6.8mm late yesterday evening and a further 9.8mm has fallen today. Sydney Olympic Park continued its run as one of Sydney's top receivers of rain for the month with a further 11.2mm and 29.2mm yesterday and today.