The Swedish weather agency SMHI in its monthly summary reported that Stockholm received only 2.7 millimetres of rain.

Not since records began in 1786 has Stockholm enjoyed such a dry month.

The previous record was 3.1 millimetres in October 1866.

The rest of the country was dry too, thanks to a sustained period of high pressure. Some areas of Dalarna, in central Sweden, did not register any measurable precipitation at all.

The month was also warmer than normal in most parts of Sweden, especially in northern Norrland, where the temperatures were two to three degrees higher than average for this time of year.

Last week it was reported that Borlänge in central Sweden had enjoyed more sunshine this October than during any other autumn in history, while Luleå and Umeå in the north were also set to smash records.

But this unseasonably warm and dry weather may not continue. 

Alexandra Ohlsson, meteorologist at the SMHI, warns that, although the next few days are likely to be dry, heavy rain is on the way.

“Next weekend we may get precipitation that affects large parts of the country. It may be the first major rains for southern and central Sweden for quite some time.”

And looking further ahead, some international weather forecasters are predicting an “abnormally cold” winter in Sweden.