RIGA – Latvia is set for partly cloudy skies that clear through the day with dry conditions, according to the national forecast issued by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.
The agency said overnight haze is expected in places, potentially reducing visibility, with a light to moderate easterly wind. The outlook describes severe night-time cold inland and comparatively milder conditions along the coast, followed by a gradual easing of daytime frost as a southwest-driven weather system strengthens.
Temperatures and wind at a glance
- Night-time lows inland: -20…-24°C.
- Night-time along the Gulf of Riga coast in Kurzeme: -8…-14°C.
- Daytime highs in most areas: -10…-15°C.
- Daytime in northern Kurzeme: -7…-10°C.
- Wind: light to moderate, easterly, backing southwest as the new system approaches.
- Sky: partly cloudy at first, clouds dispersing during the day; dry conditions.
“On Thursday alone, temperatures in some places will still drop to -20…-24°C,” the centre noted, urging residents in inland districts to factor in the extreme cold for early-morning travel and outdoor work.
Southwest cyclone to modify the air mass
The centre reports that the influence of a cyclone arriving from the southwest will strengthen, bringing an inflow of warmer air and increased precipitation risk later in the period. As this pattern develops, daytime frost is expected to ease, especially in western and coastal areas, although sub-zero conditions are forecast to persist nationwide.
The agency adds that the likelihood of a full thaw remains low, and that subsequent periods feature sunshine alternating with cloud and no significant precipitation, while localized night-time temperatures may again approach around -20°C in sheltered inland locations.
Regional context and who issued the forecast
The guidance highlights sharper inland cold versus comparatively milder coastal readings on the Gulf of Riga, an arm of the Baltic Sea. Kurzeme, Latvia’s western region, is expected to see the smallest daytime temperature deficits in its northern part, which includes important road and rail corridors as well as ferry connections that remain operational in winter conditions.
The forecast and hazard wording come from the state authority responsible for official weather monitoring and warnings across Latvia, operating under the national environmental and climate framework established by the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment. Its guidance is used by municipal emergency services, transport operators and energy planners to calibrate winter maintenance, heating demand management and school-transport decisions during prolonged cold spells.
While today’s conditions are dry, authorities note that persistent low temperatures, combined with previous snowfall and overnight haze, may still create icy patches on untreated surfaces. Clouds will disperse during the day and conditions will remain dry, the centre said, with residents advised to continue observing local municipal advisories and transport notices as the southwest system approaches.