Unusual Warmth Dominated June's Weather Patterns
In June 2022, Germany witnessed an unusually warm and sunny month, with the sun providing more hours of brightness than the recent average. The German Weather Service (DWD) reported a positive deviation in sunshine hours for June 2022 compared to the more recent reference period of 1991 to 2020.
The southwest region, in particular, experienced almost 300 hours of sunshine in June 2022. This surpassed the target of 203 hours set by the international reference period of 1961 to 1990.
While the exact number of sunshine hours in June 2022 is not available, initial assessments by the DWD indicate that the month was significantly sunnier than both the international reference period of 1961 to 1990 and the more recent reference period of 1991 to 2020.
The warm and sunny weather was accompanied by less rainfall. June 2022 received only 61 liters per square meter of rainfall, marking a deficit of one-fifth compared to the more recent reference period of 1991 to 2020. This makes June 2022 the fifth consecutive month since February to receive less rainfall than the climatological average.
The unusually warm and dry June 2022 is indicative of broader long-term climate change trends characterized by increased frequencies of heatwaves and droughts in Europe. These weather patterns suggest a shift towards more extreme and prolonged warm and dry spells, impacting ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, and increasing risks of wildfires.
The long-term climate change implications of these patterns include increased temperature anomalies and heatwaves, more frequent and intense droughts, shifts in precipitation patterns, elevated wildfire risks, and ecosystem and agricultural stress.
The June 2022 weather in Germany underscores the emerging climate realities tied to global warming, emphasizing the urgent need for adaptation in water management, agriculture, forestry, and disaster preparedness to mitigate socio-economic and environmental impacts.
The weather in June 2022 in Germany was incredibly sunny, as the German Weather Service (DWD) reported a significant sunshine hour deviation compared to both the international reference period of 1961 to 1990 and the more recent reference period of 1991 to 2020, indicating advancements in weather-forecasting technologies may have aided in estimating these trends.
The unusually warm and dry June 2022 is a reflection of broader climate change projections in Europe, including increased frequencies of heatwaves and droughts, which underscores the necessity for improved weather-forecasting to support mitigation efforts against the environmental and socio-economic impacts of long-term climate change.
