Windy weather week awaits for Latvia

However it looks like being yet another week of frustration for winter sports fans with temperatures remaining stubbornly above freezing point. Despite the warm weather, some people are still venturing out onto the very thin and brittle ice that can be found in a few places and rescuers are urging people not to do so as it is extremely dangerous.

On Monday morning, a powerful southerly wind is bringing gusts of 15-20 meters per second inland and 22-26 meters per second along the coast, according to data from weather stations. 

South, southwest wind gusts will reach 14-19 meters per second, while on the coast in the afternoon to 20-23 m/s. Damage to trees and power lines is possible and warnings are in place across the country.

The wind will be accompanied by periods of rain, sleet and even snow in the afternoon, but by evening the sky will start to clear and the precipitation will decrease.

Drivers need to be careful as roads will be slippery, particularly in Vidzeme and Latgale regions.

The maximum air temperature is from +2 Celsius to + 7 C.

Atlantic weather systems will continue to dominate throughout the working week, bringing similar though less extreme conditions. Rain is expected daily, with occasional snowfall in the east, but no lasting snowfall.

The air temperature during the days will be mostly +1 to + 6 degrees, and during the night it will be a few degrees cooler, so the roads will be slippery.

At the weekend, the skies will become clearer again, so it will get colder at night, though daytime temperatures will remain above zero.

While there may not be much to take pleasure from in the weather directly, we can at least enjoy the capacity of the Latvian language to describe the current unusual and unseasonal weather conditions. Our colleagues on LSM's Latvian language service have come up with the perfect description: "rudenīgs pavasaris" or "Autumnish Spring".