Bavaria Experiences Record-Breaking January Weather With Extreme Swings
Bavaria has experienced a highly unusual January, marked by remarkable weather contrasts and the setting of new records. The state witnessed a combination of severe cold, abundant snowfall, and a rapid transition to unseasonably warm temperatures, accompanied by an unprecedented amount of sunshine.
Throughout the month, Bavaria stood out as the region with the highest amount of sunshine in Germany, according to initial data from the German Weather Service (DWD), which analyzed information from approximately 2,000 monitoring stations nationwide. The state averaged around 88 hours of sunshine, surpassing the long-term January average of 50 hours by a significant margin of 76 percent. Particularly impressive were the results from locations near the Bavarian Alps and the Alpine foothills, where over 100 hours of sunshine were recorded.
Among Germany's sunniest locations in January, three were found in Bavaria: Altenstadt in the Weilheim-Schongau district and Kaufbeuren in the Allgäu both recorded 140 hours of sunshine, while Attenkam in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district reached 134 hours. These figures placed Bavaria at the top of the national ranking for sunny weather during the month.
Temperature fluctuations throughout January were also extraordinary. While the average temperature for the month was minus 1.9 degrees Celsius--aligning with the typical value for this time of year--this statistic masks the extreme variations that occurred. On January 6, the monitoring station in Oberstdorf registered the lowest temperature of the month nationwide, with a frigid reading of minus 21.7 degrees Celsius. In stark contrast, just nine days later, Wielenbach in Upper Bavaria experienced a mild 14.2 degrees Celsius. This results in a temperature difference of nearly 36 degrees within a short period, underscoring the volatility of the weather patterns experienced.
Despite widespread perceptions of a snowy month--exacerbated by travel disruptions, traffic accidents, and school closures due to heavy snowfall--the overall precipitation in Bavaria was relatively low. The region only received 45 liters of precipitation per square meter, significantly below the long-term January average of 66 liters per square meter. These figures suggest that while snowfall events were impactful, total moisture levels remained modest compared to typical winter months.
The combination of record sunshine, rapid temperature swings, and below-average precipitation highlights the unusual character of January's weather in Bavaria. Experts continue to analyze these patterns to understand the implications for regional climate trends and future weather expectations.