Heat records in Germany and the world

All over the world, temperatures are rising as a result of climate change. Dry periods are getting longer, rain showers are becoming rarer and natural disasters are occurring more frequently. Every year a new heat record or the hottest day since the measurements are announced worldwide. But what are the devastating consequences of these climate changes? How do the consequences affect nature, humans and animals?

We'll keep you informed and keep you up to date on both new and past heat records.

Rising temperatures as a result of climate change

Climate change is a major factor in our global average temperatures rising continuously. We have suffered from global warming for many years. Climate zones are shifting, periods of drought lead to fires and forest diebacks, trees die of thirst and natural disasters push both us and nature to our limits. The longer and longer lasting heat waves also increase the health risks for many people.

Rising average temperatures also mean that glaciers melt or sea levels rise. This, in turn, can lead to flooding and erosion. Poor developing countries are also very hard hit by climate change, as they are often heavily dependent on the natural environment.

You can find more helpful information in the detailed article "Climate change - the topic of our time".

Worldwide heat records

The weather around the world is becoming more and more unusual and the average temperatures are rising sharply. Here you will find current and past reports on global heat records.

Summer 2022: Record extreme heat and hours of sunshine

This summer was too warm, too dry and there were more hours of sunshine than ever before. This is the provisional balance of the German Weather Service for the summer of 2022. Last summer was the sunniest in Germany since measurements began. Incidentally, it was particularly sunny this year in Rhineland-Palatinate. From the beginning of the year to the end of August there was about a third more sunshine than one would normally expect, for example in Andernach. The sun will continue to shine in the near future and the solar balance will continue to expand accordingly.

According to the provisional summer balance, the average temperature in Germany was 19,2 degrees and thus 2,9 degrees above the value of the internationally valid reference period from 1961 to 1990. This makes the summer of 2022 one of the four warmest in Germany since beginning of the recordings. In Dresden and Cottbus, the June record fell with a peak value of 39,2 degrees. On July 20, the thermometer in Hamburg showed 40,1 degrees for the first time, which is the highest temperature ever measured for the Hanseatic city. According to the DWD, we had an average of 17 hot days with temperatures of more than 30 degrees across Germany this summer. Only in the record year 2003 was it one more day. In Baden-Württemberg there was the maximum number of hot days, there it was even 47.

Heat records July 2021

Even if the German summer is currently causing a somewhat gloomy mood, in retrospect, July 2021 will be a summer of heat waves in many parts of the world. Heat records are falling in various places around the world. Europe, North America, Africa and the western part of Central Asia were particularly affected. The consequences for humans and nature are devastating and an end to the development does not seem in sight. Here is a brief overview of Extreme heat events in July 2021:

Scandinavia suffered from prolonged heat since June. For example, over 34 degrees were reached in Norwegian Lapland. Temperatures north of the 70th parallel have never been measured before. In parts of Scandinavia it was on average 10 to 15 degrees warmer than usual.

At the West coast of Canada a rare natural phenomenon occurred that built up over a long period of time. Called the “heat dome”, which means that the high pressure in the atmosphere holds the hot air in the region. The extreme heat caused western Canada to climb the highest thermometer reading on record. Lytton, British Columbia measured 49,6 ° C - a record with hundreds of deaths.

In India's capital New Delhi At the beginning of July it was 43,1 ° C - the hottest day in nine years. The beginning of the monsoon has meanwhile been postponed by a week (before or after?).

Siberia will also suffer from the heat in 2021. Here, too, were on arctic circle in July still measured 30 degrees. The trend continues. This made Siberia warmer than many parts of Europe. Drought and high temperatures lead to large-scale fires and the melting of permafrost in the densely wooded north of Russia. If this happens, huge amounts of CO will continue to be generated₂ and methane released.

On the one that is currently actually in winter Southern hemisphere, in Hastings, New Zealand, recently measured 22 degrees. That meant June and July 2021 were in New Zealand the warmest in over 100 years. The temperature has risen by an average of 2 degrees Celsius.

Also in Southern Europe An enormous and record-breaking heat cloud built up at the end of July. Silzilien 48,8 ° C - hottest day in Europe Responsible is the sirocco, which floods the Mediterranean region with hot desert air. The brutal heat spreads over southern Italy, Greece, Albania, northern Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

July 2021 in Germany

At 18,3 degrees, July in Germany was as warm as the average for the past 30 years. Many, however, probably found the summer month to be significantly cooler. On the one hand, this was due to the many cloudy days. On the other hand, in contrast to the past three years, the temperatures rarely exceeded 30 degrees. Interestingly, this year's July was even a little cooler than June. The temperatures usually leveled off between 20 and 25 degrees. In addition, at 110 liters per square meter, it was the wettest July in the last 5 years.

These heat waves, which are happening this summer, are just the latest examples of a trend that is expected to continue into the future and is related to global warming. A frightening observation about recent heat waves can be made: they are more frequent, more intense, and last longer than in the past.

Sources: tagesschau.de, dw.com, deutschlandfunk.de, morgenpost.de, n-tv.de, wetteronline.de and chip.de

June heat wave in the US

A heat wave is currently also affecting the USA. Extremely high temperatures are hard on people in the southwest. About 50 million people from the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and parts of Colorado are affected, and the heatwave hit them surprisingly early this year. Arizona's capital, Phoenix, recently set a new heat record of 48 degrees Celsius, while Death Valley in California even measured 53 degrees. The consequences of extreme weather threaten the local water and electricity supply.

Source: fr.de

First heat wave in Germany in June 2021

The first heat wave of this summer reached Germany in June with record-breaking temperatures in the west and north. The temperature rises to more than 30 degrees, in many places even to 35 degrees and more. It is expected to be the hottest in the inner cities in the west with up to 37 degrees. Heat waves are more common in large cities - climate change makes it possible.

Source: tagesschau.de

Heat record in Siberia 2020 - the coldest city is reaching temperatures like never before

Climate researchers are sounding the alarm as Siberia is hit by a major heat wave. The city of Verkhoyansk is considered to be one of the coldest inhabited places in the world. Believe it or not, 20 degrees were measured there on June 2020, 38, which means an absolute heat record. Due to the persistent heat, devastating fires are also wreaking havoc in Siberia. In addition, the unusual weather causes the sea ice to melt quickly, which can threaten the life of the polar bears.

Source: zeit.de

Worldwide heat record in July 2019

July 2019 was the hottest month in the world since weather records began. In Germany, for example, 42 degrees were measured and everywhere it was hotter than ever before. Even in Alaska or Siberia the temperatures were well above average. In July 2019, the global average temperature was 0,56 degrees above the average since 1981. This means that temperatures are increasing worldwide by up to 1,2 degrees compared to pre-industrial times.

Source: tagesschau.de

The earth is glowing - heat records in many countries in 2018

Will our earth change from a blue to a red planet due to climate change?
Global warming continues and new heat records are constantly being set in various countries. Above all, countries with originally mild summers are increasingly affected by this record heat. Temperatures are rising all over the world and climate change is causing mischief.

Source: Weather.com