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WEATHER

2008 among Germany’s warmest years in the last century

Climate change made its presence known this year in Germany, one of the warmest years since 1901. While many may enjoy the balmy temperatures, scientists are alarmed because five of the century’s last seven warmest years have been very recent, the German Weather Service (DWD) reported this week.

2008 among Germany's warmest years in the last century
Photo: DPA

Two weeks before the end of the year the average temperature is at about 9.8 degrees Celsius (49.64 Fahrenheit) and therefore 1.7 °C (35.06 °F) above average, the DWD said on Tuesday. “That is a clear indicator for climate change,” DWD meteorologist Gerhard Lux told news agency DDP.

Unsettled German summer weather prevented 2008 from beating the century record from 2000, which averaged 9.9 °C. “We didn’t really have the summer of the century and a pretty cool September, otherwise we might have been able to break the record,” Lux said. Unless the temperatures drop dramatically, 2008 eight will be probably be somewhere between the fourth and seventh warmest year since records begun in 1901.

But even though 2008 won’t break temperature records, the DWD was still able to count a sensational 35 summer days on average. The year was drier and sunnier than average too, he said.

While big storms Emma and Kirsten swept across the country in March, reaching top speeds of 233 kilometres per hour, claiming several live with hail, thunderstorms, and even tornados, they were not out of the ordinary.

As the year draws to a close with the holiday, Lux said Germany would probably not have a white Christmas. High-pressure conditions will mean that the weather on Christmas Eve will stay mostly dry, he said.

Click here for The Local’s weather forecast.

WEATHER

‘Turbo spring’: Germany to see temperatures above 25C

Germany is set for a blast of warm weather in the coming week as the colder spell eases off.

'Turbo spring': Germany to see temperatures above 25C

“The late winter weather of the past few days with frost and snow is a thing of the past for the time being, and spring will kick into turbo gear over the next few days,” said meteorologist Adrian Leyser from the German Weather Service (DWD) on Friday.

Temperatures are expected to rise sharply over the weekend with plenty of sunshine, forecasters said. In Germany anything above 25C is classed as a summer day. “The summer mark of 25C will be cracked regionally as early as Sunday,” said Leyser.

It comes as snow and hail hit Germany last week, and temperatures fell below freezing in some places.

But showers and thunderstorms are still possible in the west and north of Germany. Maximum temperatures there are expected to reach around 20C. 

According to the DWD, spring will get a little damper on Monday, with a few rain spells.  “However, the next low pressure system over Western Europe is preparing to turn on the warm air jet again from Tuesday,” said the meteorologist.

On Wednesday – which is a public holiday across Germany for International Workers’ Day – temperatures could soar nearer 30C. 

“In the south and east, we are even approaching the 30C mark,” said Leyser. However, the weather will remain “susceptible to disruption”, said Leyser, especially in the west where there is a risk of isolated and sometimes severe thunderstorms.

READ ALSO: What to do on May 1st in Germany

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