As is the case with the Mediterranean sea, the Baltic sea is unusually warm. Latest analysis indicates parts of the southern and northeastern Baltic, along the coasts of Poland and Finland, is 3-4 °C above the 1982-2010 average. Elsewhere the temperature is about 1.5-2.5 °C above average. This translates into temperatures of about 18-19 °C in the southern part and 15-16 °C in the northern part.
Such warm sea provides a very favourable environment for the formation of waterspouts and late season thunderstorms. If such above average temperatures persist until winter, the countries along the southern and eastern coast of the Baltic sea may be looking at unusually strong sea-effect snowfall.
© Andrej FlisSea surface temperature of the Baltic sea on September 14.
Comment: Much of Europe was struck by extended heatwave and drought this summer, but whether this is the sole cause for the warm water anomaly remains to be seen. What is clear is that the Baltic sea has harbored the growth of a mysterious, massive and deadly algae bloom 'whirlpool' since at least July.
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