Germany records rainiest October in over 20 years
Heavy rainfall and high temperatures: many people in Germany felt like October was an extension of summer. Figures from the German Weather Service show it was one of the warmest months on record.
High temperatures of more than 30C in some places and too much rain, especially in the north: According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the month that is currently coming to an end has been one of the five warmest Octobers since records began.
It was also the rainiest October since 2002, reported the Offenbach-based weather service on Tuesday.
DWD recorded around 100 litres of rain per square metre, almost 80 percent more precipitation than within the international reference period 1961 to 1990.
Compared to the period between 1991 to 2020, Germany saw almost 60 percent more rain.
Record-breaking wetness in the north
In the North Sea region, there were only a few dry days, according to DWD. As a whole, the region logged an all-time record of 200 litres of rain per square metre.
Starting in the middle of the month, there was also more rain in the centre and south of Germany, as well as a severe storm surge on the Baltic Sea.
Apart from a brief "cold snap" with light night frosts, October was also clearly too mild, according to the DWD. The month ranks among the five warmest Octobers since measurements began in 1881.
READ ALSO:
- Germany hit by floods as October heat turns into icy spell
- Northern Germany hit by storms and flooding
The flooded fish market in Hamburg on October 15th. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Georg Wendt
Summer temperatures in autumn
The highest temperatures this month were reported on Friday, October 13th in Rheinfelden and Müllheim in the Upper Rhine Graben, both with 30.1C.
But other regions of the country also saw the mercury rise to above-average levels. On October 3rd, Elsendorf-Horneck near Ingolstadt, Bavaria recorded 29.8C while Cottbus in Brandenburg logged 29.2C.
As a whole, North Rhine-Westphalia was the warmest state in October, recording average temperatures of 12.8C over the month. Even the usually cold and windy northern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, home to the Baltic Sea coastlines, saw an average monthly temperature of 11.2C.
According to the data, the average temperature around Germany in October was 11.9C, and thus 2.9C above the value of the reference period 1961 to 1990.
The nights from the 11th to the 13th saw summer-like temperatures in the west and centre of Germany, with lows of 15 to 18C.
Compared to the current and warmer reference period 1991 to 2020, temperatures were 2.5C warmer.
Sunny start to November
The sun shone for around 100 hours in October, more or less in line with the current average for Germany. In the rainy north, however, especially on the coasts, the DWD recorded only about 60 hours of sunshine.
According to DWD, November is also set to get off to a sunny and mild start, followed by heavy rain coming at the weekend. On Wednesday, it's set to be 14C in Berlin, 15C in Munich, 13C in Hamburg and 15C in Cologne.
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High temperatures of more than 30C in some places and too much rain, especially in the north: According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the month that is currently coming to an end has been one of the five warmest Octobers since records began.
It was also the rainiest October since 2002, reported the Offenbach-based weather service on Tuesday.
DWD recorded around 100 litres of rain per square metre, almost 80 percent more precipitation than within the international reference period 1961 to 1990.
Compared to the period between 1991 to 2020, Germany saw almost 60 percent more rain.
Record-breaking wetness in the north
In the North Sea region, there were only a few dry days, according to DWD. As a whole, the region logged an all-time record of 200 litres of rain per square metre.
Starting in the middle of the month, there was also more rain in the centre and south of Germany, as well as a severe storm surge on the Baltic Sea.
Apart from a brief "cold snap" with light night frosts, October was also clearly too mild, according to the DWD. The month ranks among the five warmest Octobers since measurements began in 1881.
READ ALSO:
- Germany hit by floods as October heat turns into icy spell
- Northern Germany hit by storms and flooding
Summer temperatures in autumn
The highest temperatures this month were reported on Friday, October 13th in Rheinfelden and Müllheim in the Upper Rhine Graben, both with 30.1C.
But other regions of the country also saw the mercury rise to above-average levels. On October 3rd, Elsendorf-Horneck near Ingolstadt, Bavaria recorded 29.8C while Cottbus in Brandenburg logged 29.2C.
As a whole, North Rhine-Westphalia was the warmest state in October, recording average temperatures of 12.8C over the month. Even the usually cold and windy northern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, home to the Baltic Sea coastlines, saw an average monthly temperature of 11.2C.
According to the data, the average temperature around Germany in October was 11.9C, and thus 2.9C above the value of the reference period 1961 to 1990.
The nights from the 11th to the 13th saw summer-like temperatures in the west and centre of Germany, with lows of 15 to 18C.
Compared to the current and warmer reference period 1991 to 2020, temperatures were 2.5C warmer.
Sunny start to November
The sun shone for around 100 hours in October, more or less in line with the current average for Germany. In the rainy north, however, especially on the coasts, the DWD recorded only about 60 hours of sunshine.
According to DWD, November is also set to get off to a sunny and mild start, followed by heavy rain coming at the weekend. On Wednesday, it's set to be 14C in Berlin, 15C in Munich, 13C in Hamburg and 15C in Cologne.
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