Germany has experienced its 14th consecutive mild winter, with the latest season characterized by above-average temperatures and lower precipitation. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the average temperature from December to February was 2.1°C, which is 1.9°C higher than the historical average from 1961 to 1990. Despite sporadic cold snaps, mild temperatures prevailed. The season was also notably dry, with precipitation only reaching 86% of the average for the same period.
Regional differences were evident, with Bavaria registering the coldest temperatures at an average of 0.9°C, while Bremen was the warmest state at 3.6°C. The northern parts of Germany frequently experienced warm air influences, resulting in relatively high temperatures across Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Lower Saxony.
Snow was primarily limited to higher altitudes, and the sunshine duration was 27% above the historical average, totaling 194 hours. In some southern highlands, over 300 hours of sunshine were recorded, while coastal regions saw less than 150 hours.
The winter's lowest temperature of -19.7°C was recorded in Deutschneudorf-Brüderwiese in Saxony on February 18th. In contrast, the highest temperature reached 18.9°C in Metzingen, Baden-Württemberg, and Bad Kohlgrub, Bavaria, in January.
Overall, the mild winter continued the trend of warmer, sunnier, and dryer winter seasons in Germany, highlighting the country's ongoing climatic shifts.
