November 2020, for the record

Back in mid-November I though I would write up a summary of the warmest November after WW2 in Warsaw, which on top would be snow-free and nearly frost free. The advent of pre-winter in the last days of the month has put paid to my plans. With hindsight, I believe we shall first see a frost-free April in Warsaw (no such month in the history of weather measurements so far) than a frost-free November (even with the ongoing global warming, this is a matter of decades rather than years).

November 2020 was warm. Average temperature in Warsaw was +5.8C (vs. long-term average of +3.2C and Met Office forecast of +3.6C). Stats:
- month-time high: +16.0C on 3 November 2020,
- month-time low: –4.9C on 26 November 2020,
- the warmest day: 3 November 2020 (daily average of +12.4C),
- the coldest day: 30 November 2020 (daily average of +0.1C),
- number of days with snow cover: 1
- the highest snow depth: less than 1 centimetre on 30 November 2020.

Nevertheless, a photo round-up of the month is due anyway. To the right, morning jogging on the third day of November. Temperature: +12C at 8 a.m., as warm as on a brisk summer morning. Pic taken by the Moczydło pond on the edge of Las Kabacki. To the left, a track connecting Warsaw underground with the rest of the world.

Same day, two minutes later. Trees were still in leaf, most in the fiery colours in autumn. After a rainy and warm October leaves were turning yellow and falling later than usual this year.

Saturday,
14 November, afternoon, temperature: +9C. The photo taken during a cycling trip to oversee the progress of Warsaw’s southern bypass construction. Note – the section east of ul. Przyczółkowa is to be opened on 22 December! Clouds are rolling in over Wilanów. More than an hour later, while approach home, I was caught out by the rain.

Sunday,
15 November, morning, temperature: +7C. I was waiting for a pal to indulge in cycling in a forest. Most trees had shed their leaves. Note plenty of vehicles parked on both sides of ul. Moczydłowska. Scores of people in forests are the side effect of a decree which exempts forest areas from the face-covering obligation.

Thursday,
19 November, morning, temperature: +7C. That was the last day with double-digit day-time high in November, but not this year (yesterday temperature topped +11C). A pre-work stroll through green areas, of course without a face mask (I have no remorse about not wearing a face mask when walking through sparsely populated places).

Thursday,
26 November, morning, temperature: -2C, yet three hours earlier temperature had bottomed out at -5C. Natolin was covered by the hoar frost and lit by a rising sun. That was the second morning when winter was felt in the air.

A hint for motorists not lucky enough to keep their car in a garage. Unless buildings or tall trees block out sunrays, park your car facing south-east. Thanks to this sunray will melt frost on your windshield quickly, as it did to the black BMW and was doing to grey Kia and red Mazda.

Sunday,
29 November, afternoon, temperature: +1C. For the record – poplar (to the right), birch (to the left) and willow (in the background, behind the road sign) had not shed their leaves by then. Today, after 3 days of thermal winter (mean temperature below 0C), including one with day-time high below freezing and 2 days with gusty winds, nearly all leaves are gone.

Monday,
30 November, morning, temperature: 0C. A view from my girlfriend’s living room in Targówek. A light dusting of snow which had fallen overnight was melting. By midday there was no trace of it.

Currently, judging by long-term forecasts, no winter is in sight, at least by the end of December.