Over 26,000 instances of lightning were documented in Brandenburg - Over 26,000 instances of lightning recorded in Brandenburg
In the summer months of June and July 2021, Brandenburg, one of Germany's states, recorded a significantly lower number of lightning strikes compared to previous years. According to Nowcast, a company specializing in lightning detection, Brandenburg experienced 26,200 lightning strikes during these two months, a record low.
This is in stark contrast to Bavaria, which recorded the highest number of lightning strikes among German states, with 108,900 recorded strikes. The unusually high number of lightning strikes in Bavaria, as well as other parts of Germany, occurred during the same summer months.
The low number of lightning strikes in Brandenburg can be attributed primarily to unusual meteorological conditions in that period. The summer of 2021 was characterized by unusually dry and stable atmospheric conditions, which suppressed thunderstorm development—the primary cause of lightning strikes.
Brandenburg and surrounding areas experienced a heatwave and drought, which reduced the moisture and atmospheric instability needed for convective storms that produce lightning. This contrasts with previous years where wetter conditions or more frequent convective activity led to a higher number of lightning strikes.
Additionally, large-scale atmospheric patterns such as persistent high-pressure systems likely inhibited thunderstorm formation over Brandenburg in June and July 2021.
While the exact reasons for the lightning strike anomaly in Brandenburg in 2021 are not fully explained, contextual evidence supports this conclusion. For instance, a 2021 extreme flood event in parts of Germany and neighboring countries was linked to intense storm activity, but this was highly localized and did not affect Brandenburg with the same convective activity.
Groundwater recharge in Brandenburg was noted to be declining around this time, consistent with drought conditions reducing storm generation. There is no indication of changes in forest or land cover affecting lightning directly during this period.
Therefore, the key factors are meteorological: unusually dry, stable weather with limited thunderstorm formation and convective activity resulted in fewer lightning strikes in Brandenburg during June and July 2021 compared to previous years when conditions favored more lightning-producing storms.
It's worth noting that so far this summer, there have been hardly any large-scale thunderstorm systems in Germany, which usually produce many lightning strikes. This could potentially explain the low number of lightning strikes in other parts of Germany as well.
Potsdam, the capital of Brandenburg, was not specified as a location with a high number of lightning strikes. Berlin recorded a total of 530 lightning strikes in June and July, fewer than Bremen and Hamburg. Munich, the capital of Bavaria, was also not mentioned as a location with a high number of lightning strikes.
The low number of lightning strikes in Brandenburg is a reminder of the influence of weather patterns on natural phenomena like lightning strikes. As we continue to monitor these patterns, we can better understand and prepare for such events in the future.
- The unusual weather conditions in Brandenburg, with its dry and stable atmosphere, could potentially affect community aid for the steel industry that relies on regular thunderstorm activity for water supply.
- The low number of lightning strikes in Bavaria and other parts of Germany, possibly due to large-scale atmospheric patterns, could impact manufacturing and mining industries that depend on weather-forecasting for safe and efficient operations.
