On Saturday, a new record high temperature of 13.5 degrees Celsius was recorded in Varėna, Lithuania, for February 28, according to preliminary data shared by Meteo LT on Facebook. This surpasses the previous record, set nine years ago in 2017, when temperatures reached 12.6 degrees Celsius in Druskininkai. This marks the first temperature record for the year, while last year, Lithuania had a total of 23 such records, showcasing a significant trend toward warmer winters.

Meteo LT noted that this increase in temperature is attributed to a particularly warm air mass that has moved into Lithuania from Southwestern Europe. The organization emphasizes that over the past five years, temperature records for warmth have been set eight times more often than for cold, indicating a shift in climatic patterns affecting the region.

The implications of these rising temperatures are significant, as they suggest a continuing trend of climate change impacting Lithuanian winters. This rising warmth not only affects weather patterns but also poses risks to local ecosystems and could influence agricultural practices, highlighting the need for adaptive strategies in response to these changes.