According to the preliminary results of the German Weather Service (DWD), Germany experienced an unusually wet September. Around 175 percent of the precipitation in the internationally valid reference period from 1961 to 1990 was measured at around 107 liters per square meter – the DWD announced this after initial evaluations of its around 2,000 measuring stations. Compared to the more recent period from 1991 to 2020, the amount was almost 165 percent of the target. It was particularly rainy in the east and southeast.

In Berchtesgadener Land, up to 500 liters per square meter were measured that month, which was significantly more than three times the usual amount. According to the DWD, it was snowing unusually heavily in the Alps. Extreme rainfall in the Czech Republic and Poland brought a tense flood situation to the areas on the Oder. Ruhpolding-Seehaus in Upper Bavaria reported the highest daily rainfall on September 13th with 156.8 liters per square meter.

Due to global warming, the likelihood of extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall and flooding, is increasing in many regions.

Two degrees more than in the reference period

The average temperature in September was 15.3 degrees, which was 2.0 degrees more than in the reference period from 1961 to 1990. Compared to the current and warmer comparison period from 1991 to 2020, it was 1.5 degrees more, as the DWD announced.

Exceptional maximum temperatures were recorded in the northeast in the first week of September. On September 4th, Doberlug-Kirchhain in southern Brandenburg reported 35.2 degrees. Autumnal coolness followed; the nationwide minimum was recorded on September 29th in Messstetten on the Swabian Alb at minus 2.1 degrees.

Lots of sun, especially in the northeast

The sun shone longer than in the comparable periods. According to the preliminary DWD balance, almost 177 hours came together. That was 18 percent more than in the period from 1961 to 1990 and almost 13 percent more than in the period from 1991 to 2020. People in the northeast, especially on the Baltic Sea, were able to enjoy up to 230 hours of sunshine. The southwest had to be content with 130 hours.