"For the last 15 to 20 years, almost all years have been too warm – measured against the long-term average," said meteorologist gerhard lux on friday at the presentation of the annual review of the german weather service (DWD) in offenbach. The average annual temperature of 9.1 degrees was 0.9 degrees above the average for the years 1961 to 1990.
The precipitation remained just below the target, the sunshine duration was slightly above it. "Individual months, however, showed strong changes and sometimes extreme weather situations, which in some places led to new weather records."The year began very mildly, a russian high brought at the beginning of february then however extremely cold air and dear many lakes and rivers to freeze over. March was extremely sunny, april was relatively cool at first, but in the end unseasonably warm air brought new highs for the season.
The rapid temperature change continued in may. The summer began wet, followed by an extreme number of thunderstorms and in some places a severe heat with temperatures close to 40 degrees celsius. Autumn initially brought summery weather with warm records in october, followed by a strikingly early onset of winter. December was initially wintry throughout germany. At christmas, however, thaw weather with spring-like temperatures prevailed everywhere.
The highest temperature of the year was recorded on 20. August measured at 39.8 degrees in dresden. The coldest night hit oberstdorf with minus 29,4 degrees on 6. February. Temperatures of more than 30 degrees were recorded at numerous stations from april to september, i.E. For half a year. January, march, may and august were significantly too warm, while february was three degrees too cold. "2012, however, was not among the warmest 20 years since records began in 1881," lux said.
768 liters of precipitation per square meter fell on average – three percent less than the mean value. Zugspitze received the most rain and snow, as in the past four years. With five meters towered on the highest mountain in germany (2962 meters) on 25. January also the highest snow cover of the year. In the flatland came reit im winkel on 16. February to 1.20 meters. The driest place was trollenhagen, north of neubrandenburg, with a total of only 413 liters per square meter.
The sun shone for an average of 1,651 hours, eight percent more than the average. The top performer was also the zugspitze with 2066 hours, followed by balingen-bronnhaupten on the swabian alb with 1993 hours. It was particularly dreary on the kahler asten in the sauerland region, which brought up the rear with 1,344 hours.