Europe is bracing itself for another cold snap next week as freezing temperatures that are currently affecting the north are expected to spread south across the continent. The Nordic region is experiencing the worst of the Arctic blast, while Berlin is predicted to be 4.2C (7.6F) below average on Monday, according to Maxar Technologies. Other major cities, including Paris, London and Amsterdam, are also expected to be colder than usual for several days. Meteorologists at Maxar have reported that below-normal temperatures will affect a significant portion of the mid-continent during the middle of the 6-10 day forecast period and will also reach the southeast towards the end of this time frame.
The cold weather means that energy demand will remain elevated slightly longer, even as the official heating season ends this month. Despite this, a mild winter has helped Europe navigate the energy crisis with minimal natural gas supply from Russia, its historically biggest supplier. The region's gas storage sites are about 56% full, which is significantly higher than average for the end of the heating season. Maxar predicts a total of 52.1 heating degree days, a measure of the energy needed to heat homes, for the continent over the next 6-10 days, which is above both the 10 and 30-year averages for this time of year.