Riga, Dec 9 (LETA) - According to the operational data of the Latvian Centre for Environment, Geology and Meteorology (LVGMC), meteorological winter has started in Latvia, however, synoptics do not forecast persistent frost and snow.

Meteorological winter occurs when the average air temperature is below zero for five consecutive days. Although not all observation stations meet this criterion, the country as a whole has had temperatures slightly below zero for the previous five days, so meteorological winter began on December 4, the first day on which the average temperature in Latvia was below zero.

In the previous two years, meteorological winter in Latvia started as early as November 17, a month earlier than usual in parts of Kurzeme.

Current forecasts suggest that persistent frost and snow are not expected in the near future. More precipitation and gusty winds are forecast for the second half of December, so hopes for a white Christmas are not high.