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2011 was fifth warmest, third sunniest on record

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2011 was fifth warmest, third sunniest on record
Photo: DPA

This year was the fifth warmest and third sunniest on record - but the balmy weather was scattered around in the wrong seasons, with a warm spring and winter, and a wet summer.

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The German Weather Service (DWD) said 11 of the last 12 months were warmer than average, with the clue to how the summer was being that only July was colder than normal.

The average national temperature for 2011 was 9.6 degrees Celsius (49.3 degrees Fahrenheit), 1.4 degrees Celsius above the average. It continues a warming trend seen in the country – over the last 15 years, only 2010 has been cooler than normal, the DWD said.

The country also enjoyed its third sunniest year since 1951, when annual hours of sunshine began to be counted. With 1,824 hours of sun this year, only 2003 and 1959 were sunnier.

The year was notable for the spread of weather conditions. While spring brought record levels of sunshine and November was the driest month in 130 years, the summer was exceptionally wet.

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Roughly 304 litres of rain per square metre fell from July to August when the typical volume is 239 litres.

And December, with 123 litres of rain per square metre, had 175 percent of normal rainfall levels. Still, with an average of 718 litres of wet stuff per square metre over the year, the country was below its average annual total of 789.

Berlin was the country’s warmest state with an average temperature of 10.5 degrees this year, while Bavaria was the chilliest at 8.9 degrees.

New Year’s celebrations promise to be a bit snowy and bit windy. The DWD said much of the country would be covered by clouds Friday on night which would bring rain and snow in some areas.

The clouds are expected to stick around during New Year’s Eve with top temperatures of between 2 degrees Celsius in the east and southeast and 8 degrees in the west with small amounts of rain and snow. More rain is expected on New Year’s Day.

The Local/DPA/DAPD/mdm

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