Going Ga-Ga Over Sizzling Hesse Summer: DWD Update
Summer in Hesse, 2024, has been turning heads! According to the German Weather Service (DWD) in the heart of Offenbach, the summer heatwave that swept across Hesse was nothing short of extraordinary.
Comparing to the 1961-1990 benchmark, Hesse saw a scorching 2.2-degree rise in temperatures during June through August. Sunshine hours soared due to the balmy weather, summing up to 725 hours – almost 80 hours more than the usual 586 hours. It's safe to say that Hessians have had their fair share of vitamin D this summer.
Even the rain gods joined the party. Despite the drizzles and storms that graced our skies, rains were abundant, as reported by DWD. In fact, North Hesse broke national records on August 1st when the Trendelburg station recorded an extraordinary 169.8 liters per square meter in just eight hours – more than the station's regular monthly rainfall! DWD continues to investigate if this is also a record for the region.
By August's end, Hesse had accumulated 215 liters per square meter – only a slim 9 liters less than the reference period's 222 liters. All in all, Hesse endured a sweltering summer.
The summer of '24 didn't spectacularly set national records, but it did snatch the title as the 28th consecutive warm summer according to DWD. That's a sweltering average of 18.5°C, up 2.2°C compared to the 1961-1990 benchmark and a 0.9°C increase compared to the 1991-2020 reference period.
Despite Hesse's unpredictable weather--with rain showers popping up unexpectedly - the overall summer was a furnace for the region, making it part of the long history of 28 warm summers Hesse experienced since accurate weather records began in 1881.
It's worth mentioning that as per the long-term trend, temperatures in Germany have climbed a staggering 1.7°C overall since 1881, with 2023 marking the year of the highest average temperature (10.6°C) on record.[3] However, the specific seasonal trends for Hesse are yet to be analyzed in greater detail due to the lack of localized data.
Fun Fact:
Summer 2024 was the 28th consecutive warm summer in Hesse since historic and extensive weather observations began in 1881. With temperatures soaring 2.2°C over the 1961-1990 benchmark and 0.9°C above the 1991-2020 reference period, 2024 is expected to reveal more about the effects of climate change on Hesse's summer temperatures.
Sources:
- German Weather Service (DWD)
