Only 2018 warmer: 2020 will be the second warmest year in Germany since records began

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Again this year it was too warm in Germany in a long-term comparison: With an average temperature of 10.4 degrees Celsius, 2020 is the second warmest year since the beginning of nationwide weather records in 1881, as the German Weather Service (DWD) announced on Wednesday after the first evaluations of its measurement results .

Only the year 2018 was slightly warmer with an average of 10.5 degrees. In 2019 and 2014 the average was 10.3 degrees.

Nine of the ten warmest years were observed in the 21st century, according to the DWD, the four warmest between 2011 and 2020. This is also the warmest decade since weather records began.

Tobias Fuchs, Climate Director of the DWD, warned: "The scientific climate facts of the national weather service are alarming." Climate protection is the order of the day. 

2020 was not only warm, but also dry: With around 710 liters of rain per square meter, only a good 90 percent of the target was achieved, said the DWD.

So nine of the past ten years were too dry.

Drought and rain, sometimes with flooding, were often close together.

Climate change makes extreme weather conditions such as periods of drought, but also heavy rain and floods more likely.

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In addition, according to the DWD, 2020 was quite sunny, especially in the south.

In the north and in the low mountain range it was therefore rather poor in sunshine.

The sun shone for 1901 hours, the fourth highest value since measurements began.

The highest temperature of the year was measured on August 9th at Trier's Petrisberg: the thermometer there rose to 38.6 degrees.

Cologne had the highest average temperature over the whole year (12.8 degrees), just ahead of Frankfurt am Main (12.6).