German Weather Service
“Omega situation” brought Germany the warmest September since measurements began – what’s behind it
Due to a so-called Omega weather situation, last September was the warmest recorded so far in Germany. The German Weather Service sees this as evidence of climate change.
According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the current September was the warmest since measurements began in 1881 Germany. “An omega weather situation brought enormous meteorological anomalies in Germany in September. Under the constant influence of high pressure, the temperature rose to a value previously unattainable in the annals of weather records,” the DWD announced on Friday.
Background: Omega weather conditions
- A large high pressure area over Central Europe caused a maximum of sunshine. It was flanked by two strong low pressure areas near Spain and Greece. The course of the air flow resulting from such a constellation has a similar shape to the Greek letter Omega, hence the name. Such weather conditions are considered particularly stable and stable.
The average temperature in Germany was 17.2 degrees. The temperature in September was 3.9 degrees above the value of the internationally valid reference period 1961 to 1990. Compared to the current and warmer comparison period 1991 to 2020, the deviation was 3.4 degrees. This significantly exceeded the previous records from September 2006 and 2016, which were 16.9 degrees each.
DWD: September temperatures are evidence of climate change
According to the preliminary balance, September 2023 was also the second sunniest since records began. “The sun shone tirelessly,” it was said. At the same time, it was “significantly too dry,” as the DWD reported after initial evaluations of the results of its around 2,000 measuring stations.
“The extraordinary temperatures in this year’s record September in Germany are further evidence that we are in the midst of climate change,” said Tobias Fuchs, head of the climate and environment division at the DWD.
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The decisive factor for the record were many summer days with temperatures of more than 25 degrees. On the northern edge of the low mountain ranges, such as in Barsinghausen-Hohenbostel southwest of Hanover and in Huy-Pabstorf west of Magdeburg, the 30 degree mark was broken for the first time in seven days. In Waghäusel-Kirrlach on the Upper Rhine Graben it was also the hottest on September 12th at 33.3 degrees.
As a “refreshing contrast program”, according to the DWD, Deutschneudorf-Brüderwiese (Erzgebirge) and Oberstdorf (Allgäu) marked the nationwide low points on September 25th with 0.9 degrees each.
Weather: Temperature forecast for the coming day
Note: The map shows a temperature preview for the following day. It is provided by Wetter.de, which, like stern, is part of RTL Deutschland. Clicking on the graphic leads to Wetter.de