Thunderstorms and heavy rain in the south, scorching heat and drought in the east. June was clearly too warm and dry. The average temperature was around three degrees above the reference period.
This year’s summer in Germany began with June that was “significantly” too warm, too dry and very sunny. The German Weather Service (DWD) reported in its provisional monthly balance sheet that there were heavy thunderstorms, heavy rain and hail, especially in the south.
“The eastern regions, on the other hand, experienced scorching hot days and an exceptional drought with serious forest fires.” According to meteorological calculations, it has been summer since June 1st (until August 31st). According to the calendar, summer began on June 21 (beginning of autumn September 23).
According to the DWD, the average temperature in June was 18.4 degrees, three degrees above the value of the internationally valid reference period from 1961 to 1990. Compared to the current and warmer period from 1991 to 2020, it is plus two degrees. According to the information, it was the sixth warmest June since measurements began. The warmest June was recorded in 2019 with an average of 19.8 degrees.
It was particularly hot in the east: June records were reported for the respective federal states in both Brandenburg and Saxony, when the DWD measured 39.2 degrees in Cottbus and Dresden-Strehlen on June 19. According to the meteorologists, in June there was almost a third less precipitation at almost 60 liters per square meter than the average for the reference period 1961 to 1990 (85). Compared to the period from 1991 to 2020, the minus was almost 20 percent.
In addition, the average duration of sunshine was 275 hours – around 35 percent above the average of the reference period 1961 to 1990 (203 hours). The bottom line is that this year’s June is included in the statistics as an “extraordinarily warm, very dry and extremely sunny summer month”.
