Målilla (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈmôːˌlɪlːa])[2] is a locality in Hultsfred Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 1,524 inhabitants in 2010.[1]

Målilla
Målilla roundabout, here in October 2005, has a large thermometer in its centre
Målilla roundabout, here in October 2005, has a large thermometer in its centre
Målilla is located in Kalmar
Målilla
Målilla
Målilla is located in Sweden
Målilla
Målilla
Coordinates: 57°23′N 15°48′E / 57.383°N 15.800°E / 57.383; 15.800
CountrySweden
ProvinceSmåland
CountyKalmar County
MunicipalityHultsfred Municipality
Area
 • Total
3.26 km2 (1.26 sq mi)
Population
 (31 December 2010)[1]
 • Total
1,524
 • Density468/km2 (1,210/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

It is commonly known as the temperature capital of Sweden due to both high and low temperature records being set there. A Swedish record high temperature of +38 °C (100.4 °F) was set on June 29, 1947.[3] This record is shared with Ultuna in Uppland. The lowest temperature recorded is −33.8 °C, one of the lowest ever recorded in southern Sweden.

Due to its fame for the extremes in temperature, the center of the town's main roundabout features a 15 metre high thermometer. Shortly after its construction in December 2000, it was hit by a motorist and its bulb had to be replaced.

Sport and leisure

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Speedway

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The locker room building and announcer's tower from the Gamla Målilla Motorstadion, moved to the Målilla-Gårdveda Local History Park and converted into a museum

Målilla is famous for motorcycle speedway and a team called Dackarna,[4] who are six-time champions of Sweden.[5]

The original name of the team changed several times due to sponsorship deals; Luxo Stars and Team Svelux were two passing names until the original name was reinstated. The team won the 2021 Swedish Speedway league and has raced at the Skrotfrag Arena since 1993.

The team also raced at the Gamla Målilla Motorstadion, which existed from 1935 to 1992 before being demolished.[6][7]

Climate

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Målilla has a humid continental climate for the reference period of 1961–1990 with a January and February mean of −3 °C (27 °F).[8] The data from recent years shows the climate moving towards an oceanic climate, though still continental overall with significant differences between seasons. Whilst winter temperatures have been too cold to be oceanic, summers have become warmer on average. The 2002–2014 July average high was 23.4 °C (74.1 °F). The highest temperature recorded since the all-time record-high temperature has been 37.2 °C (99.0 °F) measured in July 2022 according to SMHI's data series.

Despite being prone to temperature extremes, Målilla has a relatively normal climate, with slightly warmer days and colder nights than typical for the area, especially during spring, with April high temperatures averaging 13 °C (55 °F) for 2002–2014, but with night time lows being around freezing point.[9] Other official statistical records include exceeding 20 °C (68 °F) in March, attaining 28.8 °C (83.8 °F) in April, and reaching 23 °C (73 °F) in October, all exceptionally warm by Swedish standards. In spite of this, the tied Swedish record of 38 °C (100 °F) set in June 1947 is the only national monthly record currently held by Målilla.[10][3]

Climate data for Målilla 2002–2018 (Extremes since 1946)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.2
(52.2)
16.2
(61.2)
20.9
(69.6)
28.8
(83.8)
30.2
(86.4)
38.0
(100.4)
37.2
(99.0)
36.2
(97.2)
29.2
(84.6)
24.0
(75.2)
16.9
(62.4)
13.2
(55.8)
38.0
(100.4)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 7.4
(45.3)
8.4
(47.1)
15.3
(59.5)
20.7
(69.3)
25.6
(78.1)
28.5
(83.3)
29.9
(85.8)
28.6
(83.5)
23.9
(75.0)
17.4
(63.3)
12.0
(53.6)
8.5
(47.3)
31.0
(87.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 0.9
(33.6)
1.9
(35.4)
6.4
(43.5)
12.8
(55.0)
18.0
(64.4)
21.4
(70.5)
23.6
(74.5)
22.2
(72.0)
17.9
(64.2)
11.0
(51.8)
5.9
(42.6)
2.6
(36.7)
12.0
(53.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −5.0
(23.0)
−4.9
(23.2)
−3.6
(25.5)
0.1
(32.2)
4.3
(39.7)
8.1
(46.6)
11.2
(52.2)
10.2
(50.4)
7.0
(44.6)
2.9
(37.2)
0.3
(32.5)
−2.9
(26.8)
2.3
(36.2)
Mean minimum °C (°F) −18.1
(−0.6)
−16.6
(2.1)
−13.5
(7.7)
−7.3
(18.9)
−2.8
(27.0)
1.3
(34.3)
5.4
(41.7)
2.9
(37.2)
−0.6
(30.9)
−5.8
(21.6)
−9.0
(15.8)
−13.6
(7.5)
−21.4
(−6.5)
Record low °C (°F) −27.2
(−17.0)
−33.8
(−28.8)
−28.5
(−19.3)
−15.8
(3.6)
−7.2
(19.0)
−3.2
(26.2)
0.9
(33.6)
−1.5
(29.3)
−8.0
(17.6)
−12.8
(9.0)
−22.8
(−9.0)
−27.0
(−16.6)
−33.8
(−28.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 35.4
(1.39)
29.2
(1.15)
25.2
(0.99)
24.6
(0.97)
43.1
(1.70)
67.4
(2.65)
93.2
(3.67)
72.4
(2.85)
35.6
(1.40)
53.5
(2.11)
47.9
(1.89)
36.8
(1.45)
564.3
(22.22)
Source 1: SMHI Open Data[11]
Source 2: SMHI Monthly Data 2002–2018[12]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2005 och 2010" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  2. ^ Jöran Sahlgren; Gösta Bergman (1979). Svenska ortnamn med uttalsuppgifter (in Swedish). p. 17.
  3. ^ a b "Svenska temperaturrekord". Sveriges meteorologiska och hydrologiska institut. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Speedway Around The Globe - Sweden". Speedway Star. 23 July 2022. pp. 38–39.
  5. ^ "HISTORICAL RESULTS 1948-2015". Speedway History. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  6. ^ "EUROPEAN PREVIEW - SGP Sweden". FIM. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Dackarna Malilla". Elit Speedway. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Temperature Normals 1961–1990". SMHI. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Yearly and Monthly Statistics". SMHI. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  10. ^ "Swedish Temperature Records". SMHI. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  11. ^ "Precitipation Normals 1961–1990" (in Swedish). Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute.
  12. ^ "Yearly and Monthly Statistics" (in Swedish). Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. 8 April 2019.