Warm temperatures keep southern Sweden from meteorological autumn

Despite darker evenings, rain and yellowing leaves, temperatures remain too high for meteorological autumn across much of Sweden, SVT reports.

Under the meteorological definition, autumn begins when the average daily temperature stays below ten degrees Celsius for five consecutive days.

SVT meteorologist Nitzan Cohen said temperatures in southern Sweden, and possibly farther north, would be above normal at the start of the week. Later, conditions are expected to become more typical and may turn somewhat colder than normal.

The yellowing leaves in southern Sweden are not necessarily a sign that autumn has arrived. Cohen said the region had experienced a very dry summer, which may be causing the leaves to change colour.

In northern Sweden, especially inland, more rain and a colder climate make autumn colours at this time of year less unusual.

Autumn usually arrives in southern Sweden between late September and mid-October. In the north, however, several areas could reach meteorological autumn this week. So far, it has only been confirmed in the mountain regions, where some areas went directly from meteorological spring to autumn without a summer.