June experienced an uncommon heatwave, according to the Weather Service.
Germany Experiences Unusually Dry, Warm, and Sunny June
June 2022 was marked by an exceptionally warm, sunny, and dry spell in Germany, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). The service attributed this unusual weather pattern to anomalous atmospheric conditions and soil water deficiency.
The DWD's initial evaluations, based on data from approximately 2,000 measuring stations, revealed that the average temperature in June was 18.5 degrees Celsius, a significant 3.1 degrees above the value of the internationally recognised reference period of 1961 to 1990 (15.4 degrees Celsius). The month was also accompanied by brief heatwaves.
In the southwest region, the sunshine hours in June this year were exceptionally high, with nearly 300 hours of sunshine recorded. This is significantly more than the target of 203 hours from the reference period of 1961 to 1990. The region also experienced more than ten hot days over 30 degrees along the Upper Rhine.
The DWD's explanation emphasises persistent weather patterns that blocked rain and kept skies clear, along with soil dryness, as the causes for June 2022’s exceptional warmth, sunshine, and dryness in Germany. A study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) supports this, citing that hot extreme weather in Central Europe is mainly due to atmospheric anomalies and soil moisture deficits, rather than temperature changes alone.
It's worth noting that every June since 2010 has been warmer than average, according to the DWD. Compared to the more recent period (1991 to 2020), the rainfall deficit in June was one-fifth (76 liters). Compared to the reference period of 1991 to 2020, the sunshine hours in June this year were higher than average, with a 28 percent positive deviation.
This year's June was unusually dry, with just 61 liters per square meter of rainfall, which is almost a third less than the rainfall recorded in the reference period of 1961 to 1990 (85 liters). The sun shone for approximately 277 hours in June this year, significantly more than the climatological average of 203 hours.
Since February, it has been the fifth consecutive month to bring less precipitation than the climatological average, indicating a persistent pattern of dry weather in Germany. The DWD's findings underscore the importance of understanding and addressing the impacts of climate change on weather patterns, particularly in relation to extreme weather events.
Weather-forecasting is crucial in understanding the prolonged dry, warm, and sunny weather pattern experienced in Germany during June 2022, as highlighted by the German Weather Service (DWD). The DWD's initial evaluations, based on data from approximately 2,000 measuring stations, indicate that the unprecedented weather conditions in June were primarily due to atmospheric anomalies and soil water deficiency.
