Abnormal Heat Waves Observed in June, According to Meteorological Reports
The southwest region of Germany, particularly along the Upper Rhine, witnessed an exceptional June this year, with more than ten hot days above 30 degrees Celsius. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), initial evaluations of its approximately 2,000 measuring stations revealed this trend.
June 2023 was significantly warmer than the internationally valid reference period of 1961 to 1990, with an average temperature of 18.5 degrees Celsius. This figure represents a rise of 3.1 degrees compared to the reference period's average of 15.4 degrees Celsius.
The sun worked overtime during this year's June, with around 277 hours of sunshine. This is a considerable increase compared to the target of 203 hours from the international reference period of 1961 to 1990. In fact, the southwest region in particular benefited from almost 300 hours of sunshine during this June.
However, the month was not just warm and sunny; it was also unusually dry. June 2023 saw only 61 liters of precipitation per square meter, a stark contrast to the average of 87 liters during the reference period of 1961 to 1990. Compared to the more recent period (1991 to 2020), June 2023 had a fifth less precipitation.
Since February, it has been the fifth consecutive month with less precipitation than the climatic average. This trend continued in June, contributing to the dry conditions experienced across the country.
It's worth noting that June 2023 was not an isolated event in terms of unusual weather patterns. Every June since 2010 has been too warm, according to the DWD, reflecting a broader trend consistent with climate change patterns in Central Europe.
While the DWD did not provide specific data on the trends since 2010 regarding temperature, sunshine hours, or precipitation, studies and climate reports from German meteorological institutes typically document an upward trend in average June temperatures, an increase in sunshine hours during early summer, and mixed trends in precipitation.
Despite the unusual weather conditions, the DWD continues to monitor the situation closely and will release further updates as more data becomes available.
Weather patterns in June 2023 were significantly influenced by climate change, as evidenced by the German Weather Service's (DWD) observations of unusually warm temperatures, increasing sunshine hours, and decreasing precipitation since 2010. Weather-forecasting models may be utilized to predict similar trends in future summers.
