Sweden beats Mediterranean region for spring heat

Temperatures in Sweden were far higher than usual on Monday, with the country beating the Mediterranean region for spring heat.

At noon, temperatures had climbed to 26 degrees Celsius in Stockholm by 2 p.m., according to the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI).

That was some six degrees higher than the forecast for the northern stretch of the Mediterranean coast in southern Europe, public broadcaster Swedish Television reported.

The Swedish capital has seen the warmest start to May in 25 years, the channel reported, while southern parts of Europe witnessed a cold front on Monday.

By Wednesday, however, the channel's meteorologist expected temperatures in Sweden to have dropped again.

"It is hard to say when it will turn, but the weather should be more stable by next week," Swedish Television's Lasse Rydqvist said.