Baltic States in February 2026: the most important developments in society
In February 2026, cold and snow dominated life in the Baltic states, followed by a thaw. Lithuania recorded its lowest temperatures in 30 years on 2 February, and the cold disrupted public transport. Freezing rain left Vilnius sidewalks slippery on 24 February, and some roads in Latvia were icy. In Estonia, heavy snow made roads difficult, and on 25 February two islands were essentially cut off from the mainland as fuel supplies ran low. Estonia set a record for the duration of a cold spell just as temperatures began to rise. Vilnius prepared for possible flooding of the Neris on 19 February, and by 27 February the flooding risk had subsided.
The sea also drew attention. Estonia's sea level may reach record lows, threatening ferry services to islands, and experts warned of rapid water loss and damage to the Baltic Sea's ecosystem.
On education and minorities, a Polish party alleged discrimination over school mergers in Lithuania's Trakai district. A vocational school in Ida-Viru County ended Russian-language continuing education, and Tallinn will assign school places by walking distance from home. Lithuania confirmed its first case of Newcastle disease on a farm near Vilnius, and Estonia recorded fewer children adopted or placed in foster care in 2025.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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