Another winter that was too warm: In addition to mild temperatures, persistent rainfall caused problems in the country. February even broke a record and was the warmest on record.
Lots of rain and sometimes spring-like temperatures: According to the German Weather Service (DWD), Germany has had an unusually wet and mild winter.
Accordingly, an average of 270 liters of precipitation per square meter fell nationwide between the beginning of December and the end of February – almost 50 percent more than the usual amount. The DWD receives its preliminary balance sheet on the first evaluations of the around 2,000 measuring stations nationwide.
Already 13 very mild winters in a row
With an average temperature of 4.1 degrees Celsius, the winter that was ending was, according to preliminary results, the third warmest since systematic weather records began in 1881. Only the winters of 2006/2007 and 2019/2020 were even milder, the meteorologists explained. Germany has already experienced the 13th very mild winter in a row.
This year’s February even set a new monthly record with an average temperature of “unprecedented” 6.6 degrees, significantly exceeding the previous peak of 5.7 degrees in February 1990. Even compared to a typical March, it was unusually warm. According to long-term reference measurements, the average temperature in March was 3.5 degrees.
Flooding caused by persistent rainfall
Overall, this year’s winter months were reportedly very wet. The nationwide average rainfall was almost 50 percent higher than the 181 liters expected according to comparative data for the reference period 1961 to 1990. The north of Germany was particularly affected by “historic December rainfall”. But even in January and February it remained “wet across the board” due to persistent rain. Snow only fell temporarily and only stayed longer in the mountains.
Persistent heavy rainfall led to floods in December and January, especially in Lower Saxony. Numerous rivers burst their banks and sometimes threatened settlements. There were isolated evacuations and helpers were on constant duty for weeks. Saxony-Anhalt was also affected.
Meteorological winter lasts from December 1st to the end of February. It therefore deviates from astronomical winter, the beginning and end of which are determined by the highest and lowest points of the sun’s orbit. The astronomical winter therefore runs from December 21st to March 20th.