Erfurt (dpa/th) - In Thuringia it was very sunny and warm in 2022 - but in comparison the Free State is one of the coolest federal states. With an annual average temperature of 10.0 degrees, it could be the warmest year so far for Thuringia, as the German Weather Service announced on Friday. However, the last two days of the year that is coming to an end were only included in the evaluation as forecasts. So there may still be changes. The long-term average annual temperature in Thuringia from 1961 to 1990 is 7.6 degrees - i.e. a whopping 2.4 degrees below the value assumed for 2022.
With 1970 hours of sunshine in Thuringia, there were more than ever since records began. Here the long-term average is 1486 hours. According to the DWD, March was the sunniest since records began. The summer - i.e. the months of June, July and August - was the second sunniest since records began.
Despite the often friendly weather, Thuringia was one of the cooler and less sunny federal states in 2022, because it was even milder in many other states in Germany.
2022 is also considered a dry year. It rained or snowed 562 liters per square meter in Thuringia, the long-term average is around 700 liters per square meter. Artern on the border with Saxony-Anhalt could also be the measuring station with the lowest value this year. As of Friday, the amount of precipitation there was around 400 liters per square meter, as a spokesman said when asked. However, there could still be some rain.
According to preliminary data, Thuringia was the coldest federal state in December with an average of 1 degree. There was snow in the mountains for several weeks. However, mild temperatures then ruined a white Christmas. According to the DWD, record temperatures of more than 15 degrees could occur on New Year's Eve.
