"Why is the weather like this in April?"... Germany records all-time high temperature of 30.1 degrees

As an abnormal warm temperature phenomenon appeared in spring in Germany, meteorologists warned that the number of heatwave days in Europe could increase this summer.

Tourists are cooling off at the fountain in Lustgarten Park, Berlin, Germany. / Photo by Yonhap News

According to the German Meteorological Office on the 8th (local time), Olsbach in Baden-W?rttemberg in the southwest recorded a maximum temperature of 30.1 degrees Celsius on the 6th. The next day, Rosenheim in Bavaria in the southeast recorded 28.2 degrees.

This is the first time since weather observations began in 1881 that temperatures in early April (1st to 10th) in Germany have exceeded 30 degrees. The previous record was 27.7 degrees measured on April 7, 2011, in Rheinfelden, Baden-W?rttemberg.

The German Meteorological Office explained that warm air from North Africa flowed into Central Europe along the low-pressure front formed over Western Europe. It also predicted that temperatures around 25 degrees would persist for several days in most regions except the northern coast.

Germany's average temperature last year was 10.6 degrees, the highest since observations began, similar to other parts of the world. The average summer (June to August) temperature was 18.5 degrees, 2.2 degrees above the 1961?1990 average.

Heatwaves with daytime temperatures exceeding 30 degrees are also occurring frequently. According to the German Environment Agency, before the 1990s, the number of heatwave days was below 10. However, nationwide averages rose to 17.3 days in 2022 and 11.5 days last year, with days recording maximum temperatures above 30 degrees increasing.

The academic community has warned of extreme climate this summer. In addition to the warming trend, the rapidly melting Greenland ice sheet recently strengthens the jet stream over Europe, pushing warm air from the south northward. Meteorologist Dominik Jung said, "This summer's heat will be among the top ten since 1881," adding, "Not only Germany but all of Europe will be very hot."