Heat wave in Sweden and 5 other countries, 10 to 18 May 2023

Name: Heat wave in Sweden and 5 other countries, 10 to 18 May 2023
Start: 2023-05-10
End: 2023-05-18
Location: Sweden, Finland, Russia, Norway, Germany, Estonia

Heat wave in Sweden and 5 other countries, 10 to 18 May 2023: 140 records at 79 stations, peak on 15 May 2023. Closed.

Data as of 2026-10-12. Last revised 12 October 2026 (2026-10-12).

Key Facts

Heat wave in Sweden and 5 other countries, 10 to 18 May 2023 set or tied 140 station records at 79 stations.
It ran from 10 May 2023 to 18 May 2023 (9 days) and its peak day was 15 May 2023.
Status: closed.
Kanin Nos set a daily record high maximum temperature of 12.7 C (54.9 F) on 17 May 2023.
The busiest day was 15 May 2023 with 29 records.
The oldest broken record in the ranked list had stood for 92 years.

Footprint

10 to 18 May 2023

The area covered by Heat wave in Sweden and 5 other countries, 10 to 18 May 2023 is outlined, with 17 of the stations that set records marked, coloured by record type. Made with Natural Earth.

Footprint of Heat wave in Sweden and 5 other countries, 10 to 18 May 2023: stations that set records in the event
Station	Type	Value	Date
Kanin Nos	Record high maximum temperature	12.7 C (54.9 F)	2023-05-17
Ust Tzilma	Record high maximum temperature	26.0 C (78.8 F)	2023-05-18
Teriberka	Record high minimum temperature	11.4 C (52.5 F)	2023-05-16
Zhizhgin Mayak	Record high minimum temperature	9.9 C (49.8 F)	2023-05-17
Pitea	Record high maximum temperature	23.5 C (74.3 F)	2023-05-11
Kautokeino	Record high minimum temperature	4.9 C (40.8 F)	2023-05-14
Narjan Mar	Record high minimum temperature	10.1 C (50.2 F)	2023-05-18
Padun	Record high minimum temperature	11.3 C (52.3 F)	2023-05-17
Lulea-Bergnaset	Record high minimum temperature	6.7 C (44.1 F)	2023-05-12
Utsjoki Kevo	Record high maximum temperature	22.0 C (71.6 F)	2023-05-15
Ust-USA	Record high maximum temperature	25.0 C (77.0 F)	2023-05-18
Fruholmen Fyr	Record high maximum temperature	15.4 C (59.7 F)	2023-05-15
Torsvag Fyr	Record high minimum temperature	9.7 C (49.5 F)	2023-05-15
Slettnes Fyr	Record high maximum temperature	16.3 C (61.3 F)	2023-05-15
Sodankyla Vuotso	Record high maximum temperature	20.9 C (69.6 F)	2023-05-15
Makkaur Fyr	Record high maximum temperature	13.9 C (57.0 F)	2023-05-16
Vardo	Record high maximum temperature	13.8 C (56.8 F)	2023-05-17

Records per Day

Peak day 29

Records set or tied each day from 10 May 2023 to 18 May 2023. The most in one day was 29 on 15 May 2023.

Records per day during Heat wave in Sweden and 5 other countries, 10 to 18 May 2023
Date	Records
2023-05-10	6
2023-05-11	8
2023-05-12	24
2023-05-13	9
2023-05-14	14
2023-05-15	29
2023-05-16	28
2023-05-17	16
2023-05-18	6

Top Records by Margin

Margin over the record replaced

Top records of Heat wave in Sweden and 5 other countries, 10 to 18 May 2023 ranked by margin
Padun, 05-17	5.7 C (10.3 F)
Teriberka, 05-16	4.8 C (8.6 F)
Utsjoki Kevo, 05-15	3.2 C (5.8 F)
Fruholmen Fyr, 05-15	2.7 C (4.9 F)
Slettnes Fyr, 05-15	2.6 C (4.7 F)
Kanin Nos, 05-17	2.5 C (4.5 F)
Pitea, 05-12	2.2 C (4.0 F)
Torsvag Fyr, 05-15	2.2 C (4.0 F)
Vardo, 05-17	1.9 C (3.4 F)
Makkaur Fyr, 05-16	1.9 C (3.4 F)
Narjan Mar, 05-18	1.8 C (3.2 F)
Ust-USA, 05-18	1.8 C (3.2 F)
Teriberka, 05-15	1.6 C (2.9 F)
Zhizhgin Mayak, 05-17	1.5 C (2.7 F)
Teriberka, 05-16	1.2 C (2.2 F)

Margin is how far the new value is beyond the record it replaced. Ties are not shown.

Margin Against Age of the Broken Record

140 records plotted by how far they beat the old record (across) and how many years the old record had stood (up). Long standing records beaten by a wide margin sit in the top right.

Margin against age of the broken record in Heat wave in Sweden and 5 other countries, 10 to 18 May 2023
Margin (C)	Years the old record stood
2.5	92
1.1	92
4.8	45
1.5	69
0.6	73
1.8	69
0.3	76
1.6	60
5.7	33
3.2	60
1.2	60
1.8	68
2.2	48
0.3	72
2.7	48
2.2	48
2.6	48
1.1	60
1.9	48
1.9	48
2.6	48
1.1	60
1.3	45
0.2	65
2.7	38
0.4	60
3.0	33
0.1	58
0.4	48
1.0	46
1.7	45
0.7	45
2.3	30
0.1	60
0.1	60
6.8	12
0.4	38
0.8	49
1.6	45
0.8	33
0.5	46
0.2	48
0.7	46
0.7	45
0.4	46
1.8	38
1.8	33
1.1	40
0.1	33
0.2	45
3.8	25
0.3	46
0.3	38
0.6	33
0.2	41
1.2	26
1.0	20
1.5	22
0.1	20
0.7	17
0.9	26
1.2	20
4.7	12
0.9	20
1.1	17
1.3	29
2.5	12
0.1	34
1.7	20
4.4	12
0.3	20
2.0	12
0.2	34
0.1	26
2.9	4
0.4	21
1.6	20
1.4	24
3.1	12
0.2	22
2.1	12
3.3	10
0.1	20
0.3	29
0.1	12
0.1	22
0.2	20
0.4	12
0.8	12
2.0	4
0.9	21
1.3	12
0.2	20
0.9	12
1.0	12
1.6	12
0.3	12
1.1	8
1.7	13
0.5	1
0.1	21
0.6	12
2.7	4
1.8	4
1.0	6
0.3	6
1.2	4
0.2	6
1.5	4
0.8	4
1.5	4
0.2	12
0.1	4
0.7	4
1.8	4
0.5	4
2.3	1
1.1	1
0.8	4
0.1	6
1.0	4
0.6	4
0.3	4
0.2	4
0.2	12
0.2	4
0.4	4
0.2	4
0.2	1
0.4	4
0.2	14
0.1	4
0.3	4
1.2	4
0.5	4
0.5	4
0.7	4
0.5	4
0.2	4
0.2	4

Compared With Other Events

Station records per event

Station records in Heat wave in Sweden and 5 other countries, 10 to 18 May 2023 compared with similar events
Heat wave in United States and Mexico, 16 January to 14 February 2024	9,869 records
Heat wave in United States, 28 January to 24 February 2026	6,528 records
Heat wave in United States and Mexico, 24 May to 19 June 2020	5,047 records
Heat wave in United States and Mexico, 26 March to 17 April 2021	3,669 records
Heat wave in Germany and 49 other countries, 18 December 2021 to 15 January 2022	3,626 records
Heat wave in Sweden and 5 other countries, 10 to 18 May 2023 (this event)	140 records

Every Record Set

20 of 140

Every record set or tied during Heat wave in Sweden and 5 other countries, 10 to 18 May 2023, in date order
Date	Station	Record	Value	Margin	Years stood	Significance
2023-05-11	Pitea	Record high maximum temperature	23.5 C (74.3 F)	0.3 C (0.5 F)	76	32 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-12	Pitea	Record high minimum temperature	8.6 C (47.5 F)	2.2 C (4.0 F)	48	30 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-12	Lulea-Bergnaset	Record high minimum temperature	6.7 C (44.1 F)	0.3 C (0.5 F)	72	30 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-14	Kautokeino	Record high minimum temperature	4.9 C (40.8 F)	0.6 C (1.1 F)	73	32 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-15	Teriberka	Record high maximum temperature	18.8 C (65.8 F)	1.6 C (2.9 F)	60	31 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-15	Utsjoki Kevo	Record high maximum temperature	22.0 C (71.6 F)	3.2 C (5.8 F)	60	30 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-15	Fruholmen Fyr	Record high maximum temperature	15.4 C (59.7 F)	2.7 C (4.9 F)	48	29 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-15	Torsvag Fyr	Record high minimum temperature	9.7 C (49.5 F)	2.2 C (4.0 F)	48	29 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-15	Slettnes Fyr	Record high maximum temperature	16.3 C (61.3 F)	2.6 C (4.7 F)	48	27 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-15	Sodankyla Vuotso	Record high maximum temperature	20.9 C (69.6 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	60	26 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-16	Teriberka	Record high minimum temperature	11.4 C (52.5 F)	4.8 C (8.6 F)	45	37 of 100 (Notable)
2023-05-16	Teriberka	Record high maximum temperature	19.4 C (66.9 F)	1.2 C (2.2 F)	60	30 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-16	Makkaur Fyr	Record high maximum temperature	13.9 C (57.0 F)	1.9 C (3.4 F)	48	26 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-17	Kanin Nos	Record high maximum temperature	12.7 C (54.9 F)	2.5 C (4.5 F)	92	43 of 100 (Notable)
2023-05-17	Zhizhgin Mayak	Record high minimum temperature	9.9 C (49.8 F)	1.5 C (2.7 F)	69	33 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-17	Padun	Record high minimum temperature	11.3 C (52.3 F)	5.7 C (10.3 F)	33	31 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-17	Vardo	Record high maximum temperature	13.8 C (56.8 F)	1.9 C (3.4 F)	48	26 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-18	Ust Tzilma	Record high maximum temperature	26.0 C (78.8 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	92	38 of 100 (Notable)
2023-05-18	Narjan Mar	Record high minimum temperature	10.1 C (50.2 F)	1.8 C (3.2 F)	69	32 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-18	Ust-USA	Record high maximum temperature	25.0 C (77.0 F)	1.8 C (3.2 F)	68	30 of 100 (Routine)

The daily ledgers keep a limited number of records per day, so this list has 20 of the 140 records the event counts. The counts above use the full total.

Download the Data

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Data as of 2026-10-12. Events are found by this site from station records and are not official designations. Records are provisional until reprocessed.

Margin (C)	Years the old record stood
2.5	92
1.1	92
4.8	45
1.5	69
0.6	73
1.8	69
0.3	76
1.6	60
5.7	33
3.2	60
1.2	60
1.8	68
2.2	48
0.3	72
2.7	48
2.2	48
2.6	48
1.1	60
1.9	48
1.9	48
2.6	48
1.1	60
1.3	45
0.2	65
2.7	38
0.4	60
3.0	33
0.1	58
0.4	48
1.0	46
1.7	45
0.7	45
2.3	30
0.1	60
0.1	60
6.8	12
0.4	38
0.8	49
1.6	45
0.8	33
0.5	46
0.2	48
0.7	46
0.7	45
0.4	46
1.8	38
1.8	33
1.1	40
0.1	33
0.2	45
3.8	25
0.3	46
0.3	38
0.6	33
0.2	41
1.2	26
1.0	20
1.5	22
0.1	20
0.7	17
0.9	26
1.2	20
4.7	12
0.9	20
1.1	17
1.3	29
2.5	12
0.1	34
1.7	20
4.4	12
0.3	20
2.0	12
0.2	34
0.1	26
2.9	4
0.4	21
1.6	20
1.4	24
3.1	12
0.2	22
2.1	12
3.3	10
0.1	20
0.3	29
0.1	12
0.1	22
0.2	20
0.4	12
0.8	12
2.0	4
0.9	21
1.3	12
0.2	20
0.9	12
1.0	12
1.6	12
0.3	12
1.1	8
1.7	13
0.5	1
0.1	21
0.6	12
2.7	4
1.8	4
1.0	6
0.3	6
1.2	4
0.2	6
1.5	4
0.8	4
1.5	4
0.2	12
0.1	4
0.7	4
1.8	4
0.5	4
2.3	1
1.1	1
0.8	4
0.1	6
1.0	4
0.6	4
0.3	4
0.2	4
0.2	12
0.2	4
0.4	4
0.2	4
0.2	1
0.4	4
0.2	14
0.1	4
0.3	4
1.2	4
0.5	4
0.5	4
0.7	4
0.5	4
0.2	4
0.2	4

Margin (C)	Years the old record stood
2.5	92
1.1	92
4.8	45
1.5	69
0.6	73
1.8	69
0.3	76
1.6	60
5.7	33
3.2	60
1.2	60
1.8	68
2.2	48
0.3	72
2.7	48
2.2	48
2.6	48
1.1	60
1.9	48
1.9	48
2.6	48
1.1	60
1.3	45
0.2	65
2.7	38
0.4	60
3.0	33
0.1	58
0.4	48
1.0	46
1.7	45
0.7	45
2.3	30
0.1	60
0.1	60
6.8	12
0.4	38
0.8	49
1.6	45
0.8	33
0.5	46
0.2	48
0.7	46
0.7	45
0.4	46
1.8	38
1.8	33
1.1	40
0.1	33
0.2	45
3.8	25
0.3	46
0.3	38
0.6	33
0.2	41
1.2	26
1.0	20
1.5	22
0.1	20
0.7	17
0.9	26
1.2	20
4.7	12
0.9	20
1.1	17
1.3	29
2.5	12
0.1	34
1.7	20
4.4	12
0.3	20
2.0	12
0.2	34
0.1	26
2.9	4
0.4	21
1.6	20
1.4	24
3.1	12
0.2	22
2.1	12
3.3	10
0.1	20
0.3	29
0.1	12
0.1	22
0.2	20
0.4	12
0.8	12
2.0	4
0.9	21
1.3	12
0.2	20
0.9	12
1.0	12
1.6	12
0.3	12
1.1	8
1.7	13
0.5	1
0.1	21
0.6	12
2.7	4
1.8	4
1.0	6
0.3	6
1.2	4
0.2	6
1.5	4
0.8	4
1.5	4
0.2	12
0.1	4
0.7	4
1.8	4
0.5	4
2.3	1
1.1	1
0.8	4
0.1	6
1.0	4
0.6	4
0.3	4
0.2	4
0.2	12
0.2	4
0.4	4
0.2	4
0.2	1
0.4	4
0.2	14
0.1	4
0.3	4
1.2	4
0.5	4
0.5	4
0.7	4
0.5	4
0.2	4
0.2	4