Wetter-than-usual conditions persist through the initial month of the year, according to the weather service's analysis of July's climate data
In the heart of Germany, the state of Saxony-Anhalt experienced an unusual weather pattern in July, making it the wettest month in the region since records began. The German Weather Service (DWD) recorded a staggering 81 liters of precipitation per square meter, surpassing the target of 52 liters by more than 50 percent.
This excess precipitation, coupled with the warm temperatures, placed Saxony-Anhalt last in the state ranking. July 2022 was particularly warm at the beginning, with an average temperature of 1.2 degrees warmer than the long-term average of 17.6 degrees Celsius for the years 1961 to 1990.
The weather in the coming days is expected to remain warm, wet, and windy. A thunderstorm is approaching in Magdeburg, indicating a changeable weekend. The German Weather Service has issued a warning for a thunderstorm week in Saxony-Anhalt ahead.
Despite the heavy rain, the excess precipitation in July helped to alleviate the drought somewhat in Saxony-Anhalt. The sun shone for 189 hours during the summer weekend, slightly less than the comparison period of 207 hours.
The summer has another chance to start in August in Saxony-Anhalt. However, it's noteworthy that July 2022 was not as rainy as in other federal states. The report from the German Weather Service (DWD) indicates that July was wetter than usual, but it was still a deviation from the usual weather patterns for the state.
Looking back, there is no explicit record in these sources about previously too wet January months in Saxony-Anhalt or their direct impacts. Typically, very wet January conditions could lead to flooding, soil saturation issues, and challenges in water management infrastructure. Understanding the impact of excessively wet conditions, especially in winter months like January, is crucial for urban water management practices.
The featured image for this article is Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa.
[1] Average daily rainfall in June for Gräfenhainichen: https://www.dwd.de/DE/Klima/KlimaDaten/KlimaDatenKarten/klima_daten_karten_de.html [3] Clim4Cast: https://www.clim4cast.eu/ [4] Soil moisture and drought intensity forecasting tools: https://www.dwd.de/DE/Klima/KlimaDaten/KlimaDatenKarten/klima_daten_karten_de.html [5] Urban water management practices in Germany: https://www.germanwatch.org/en/14627
The German Weather Service (DWD) has predicted a warm, wet, and windy weather pattern in the coming days for Saxony-Anhalt, with a thunderstorm approaching Magdeburg. This forecast coincides with the DWD's warning of a thunderstorm week in the region. Despite the heavy rain, July 2022, though wetter than usual, was not as exceptionally rainy as in other federal states. In fact, understanding the impact of excessively wet conditions, particularly in winter months like January, is crucial for urban water management practices in Germany.
