Norway sees warmest winter for 150 years

"This has been a very special and extreme winter in many parts of the world," Strand said.

 

The average temperature in the city of Bergen during December, January and February was 4.8 degrees, a winter rivalled only by 1990, when the temperature averaged 4.6 degrees. 

 

He said the warmth was the result of an unusually stable weather system over the North Atlantic, which channeled warm winds towards Norway and cold Arctic breezes towards North America. 

 

"The cold air is directed towards North America , while the hot air is directed to us," Strand said. "Why the flow pattern is such this year is not easy to say. Some researchers suggest that it is due to lack of snow in the Arctic."