North- and Baltic Sea influence Europe ’s winter 2012/2013 until now.
Posted: 14 January 2013

by Dr. Arnd Bernaerts

  Western Europe seems to be safe to see much of a harsh winter. After a significant, but moderate cold snap in last December 2012 (See HERE), the next few days will be colder until about the 22^nd of January 2013. In Hamburg they may drop to 10-13°C on the 18/19. January, but are back to around 0°C.

For this moderate condition, the North- and Baltic Sea contribute significantly, as in dicated in the Forecast map for Europe for the next 14 days. (Fig. 1). The high storage of heat in this both seas, already prevented the cold snap in Asia (see: below) to move too far westwards. The sea ice conditions and sea surface temperature anomaly per 13/14 Jan.2013 are indicated in Fig. 2 & Fig.3.

 The Asian continent, experienced a much different winter conditions this winter, as the following extract indicate:

 Deadly cold spreads to Bangladesh    (Aljazeera – Fri, Jan 11, 2013)
___ The cold winter weather, which has hit northern parts of Pakistan and India , has spread to neighbouring  Bangladesh .
The lowest temperatures in more than 40 years have caused severe hardship. More than 80 people have died because of the cold and many more have been hospitalized with respiratory problems and pneumonia. cont./Source : http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/deadly-cold-spreads-bangladesh-094230699.html

  China shivers with lows of minus 40C ( AAP,  January 07, 2013)
___THE coldest weather for 30 years has brought temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius and left about 260,000 people in need of emergency aid in northern China 's Inner Mongolia region, state media says.
The cold spell killed at least two people and about 180,000 head of livestock, affecting some 770,000 people across Inner Mongolia since late December, the Xinhua news agency said on Sunday. Cont/ Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/world/china-shivers-with-lows-of-minus-40c/story-fnddckzi-1226548545945

 China Daily reported recently (05.Jan.2013): “ China sees coldest weather in 28 years”
___BEIJING - Temperatures recorded since the end of November 2012 have marked the lowest temps to hit China in 28 years, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said Saturday.
Temps have averaged minus 3.8 degrees Celsius since the last 10 days of November, about 1.3 degrees lower than the previous recorded average.
Temperatures in northeast China hit a 43-year low and stood at minus 15.3 degrees Celsius, about 3.7 degrees below the previous recorded average.
North China experienced its coldest winter in 42 years, with temperatures hitting minus 7.4 degrees Celsius, 2.4 degrees lower than the average level in previous years. Cont/ Source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-01/05/content_16085893.htm

 Concerning Europe the forecast by ACCUWEATHER on 09^th Nov.2012 was as follows:

_____While cold shots blast portions of western and northern mainland Europe at times, stormy weather may hit southern Spain , the Mediterranean region and southeastern Europe .
Meteorologists expect Siberian cold to reach portions of western and northern mainland Europe , especially during the middle to latter part of winter. Much of the United Kingdom , Denmark , the Netherlands , Belgium , Poland , Germany , Switzerland , France , Spain and Portugal will have below-normal temperatures for the season.
"January to February will be the best chance for cold air coming out of Siberia ," AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert said. (By Meghan Evans, Meteorologist.) Excerpt from: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/europe-winter-forecast-2012-2013/961001