DWD's weather forecast plunges into unforeseen flooding: July gets drenched unexpectedly.
Heavy Rain and Flooding in Germany: A Sign of Changing Climate
Germany has recently experienced a series of heavy rainfall events, with July 2022 being particularly noteworthy. Following a high temperature on July 2nd, a sharp drop in temperature was recorded, setting the stage for changeable weather, heavy rain, and storms across many regions.
According to meteorologist Walter, the situation could still change in the next two weeks, but currently, there's no indication of improved weather in August. In fact, the average temperature in July was 18.4 degrees, which is 1.5 degrees higher than the July average of the reference period 1961 to 1990. Even compared to the more recent and wetter reference period 1991 to 2020, the target was exceeded by more than 30 percent.
In the Alpine region, between 300 to 400 liters per square meter, and locally over 450 liters per square meter, were recorded in the measuring stations throughout the month. On average, 114 liters of rain per square meter fell in July, making it the first month since January to have more rainfall than the respective comparison period.
The excessive rainfall events have had a significant impact, raising river levels and causing flooding. Infrastructure vulnerabilities, such as railway washouts, have been revealed by these intense weather conditions, underlining the impacts of climate change.
Experts and agencies note that extreme rainfall and floods are becoming more frequent and severe across Europe, including Germany. For Germany specifically, substantial rainfall in certain regions, including river catchments feeding the Rhine, has raised river levels and caused flooding. This trend is consistent with scientific observations that a warming atmosphere holds more moisture, increasing the potential for intense precipitation events.
Analyses by German research bodies have highlighted increased extreme rainfall over the past 25 years, which increases risks such as landslides and other flood consequences. The July 2022 rainfall is just one example of this rising trend, with the broader scientific consensus and evidence from recent flood events in Germany and Europe supporting the understanding that climate change is significantly influencing the rising trend of extreme rainfall events and their impact.
Ingrid Hartges, CEO of the Hotel and Restaurant Association Dehoga, states that the economic situation of hotels and restaurants heavily depends on local conditions and weather. Rainy weather affects not only outdoor dining but also day trips and last-minute hotel bookings. Hartges suggests that sunny weather in August could at least ease the situation by encouraging day trips and spontaneous hotel bookings.
While specific attribution studies would be needed to quantify the exact role of climate change in the July 2022 rainfall, the broader scientific consensus and evidence from recent flood events in Germany and Europe support the understanding that climate change is significantly influencing the rising trend of extreme rainfall events and their impact.
In summary, the connection between the occurrence of excessive rainfall events in Germany, such as those seen in July 2022, and climate change is recognized. Experts and agencies are calling for better climate protection and preparedness in response to this increasing hazard.
- The excessive rainfall events in Germany, as seen in July 2022, are aligned with environmental-science predictions about climate change, indicating that a warming atmosphere holds more moisture, increasing the potential for intense precipitation events like heavy rain and storms.
- The rising trend of extreme rainfall and floods, such as those occurring in Germany, is consistent with scientific observations in the field of climate-change and weather-forecasting, suggesting that climate change is significantly influencing the frequency and severity of such events.
- As the economic activity of hotels and restaurants in Germany heavily depends on local conditions and weather, rainy weather, such as that experienced in July 2022, can have a significant impact, affecting not only outdoor dining but also day trips and last-minute hotel bookings, underscoring the need for better weather-forecasting and climate-change preparedness.