Ministry of natural resources and environmental protection of the Republic of Belarus Map Republic BELHYDROMET
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06.03.2019

Climate characteristic of winter 2018/2019

Average air temperature of winter 2018-2019 was -2,3°С across Belarus that is 1,7°С above climate normal. In the ordered series from the warmest winter period to the coldest, this winter was 12th since 1945. The warmest winter was winter of 1989-1990 with average air temperature -0,1ºС, the coldest – winter of 1984-1985 with average air temperature -10,4ºС. Positive anomaly of air temperature was registered everywhere. The most positive deviations of air temperature from climate normal were registered in Vitebsk region (1,9°С on average across the region), the least – in Gomel region (1,5°С on average across the region).
Deviation of average air temperature of winter from climate normal (-4,0оС) across the Republic of Belarus

February was very warm with average air temperature +0,2°С that is 4,5°С above climate normal. Such warm or even warmer February is once every 12 years in Belarus. In the ordered series of observations, this February was 7th since 1945; the warmest was February of 1990 with average monthly temperature +2,6ºС. Maximum air temperature (+12,5°С) of this winter was registered in Brest on December, 19.
 
Average air temperature and climate normal for months of winter season 2018-2019 across Republic of Belarus 

127 mm of precipitations fell on average in winter 2018-2019 across the country that is 105% of climate normal. Maximum amount of precipitations was in Grodno region (142 mm or 111% of climate normal), the least (122 mm) was registered in Vitebsk, Brest and Mogilev regions – 91%, 108% and 111% of climate normal respectively.
 

Amount of precipitations in winter 2018-2019 and climate normal across the regions and Republic of Belarus

December and January were characterized by excess of precipitations, February – by deficit of precipitations. 63 mm of precipitations (climate normal is 45 mm) fell in December, 48 mm in January – with40 mm of  climate normal, 16 mm in February – with 35 mm of climate normal. Such dry February is registered once every 12-13 years across Belarus since 1945. The least of precipitations (8 mm) was registered in February, 1972.
 
Amount of precipitations and climate normal for months across Republic of Belarus

Precipitations fell in the form of rain, snow and wet snow. Snow cover appeared in the end of November remain on most of the country in the first half of December except Brest and Grodno regions where it was observed only in several areas. In the second half of December, snow cover was observed all the month, in February snow was observed everywhere in Vitebsk and Mogilev regions, in most of areas of Minsk and Gomel regions. Snow cover was observed in places on the remain territory of the Republic, while it was almost melted in Brest region. Snow height ranged from 1 to 17 cm on the last day of winter.
Fogs, glaze-ice and rime deposition were observed in certain days of this winter as well as the icy roads. Wind gust up to 15 m/s and higher was registered in certain regions. Maximum wind speed in winter (20 m/s) was registered in Slavgorod on February, 21 and in Slutsk on February, 22.

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