New Year's record follows New Year's Eve record
In southern Germany, temperatures often exceeded 20°C on New Year's Eve. Over 100 stations in Germany broke all-time records for December at the last minute. Subsequently, 313 stations registered a new January record on January 1. In Austria, the warmest January 1st in over 250 years of measurement history was recorded, with Puchberg am Schneeberg leading the way at 19.7°C. MeteoSwiss also reports: Warmest New Year's Eve ever on the north side of the Alps, directly followed by numerous January records on New Year's Day. The night-time minimum, i.e. the coldest temperature of the day, was also quite impressive in places - in Vaduz the temperature only dropped to 16.1°C at night. Ideal for setting off fireworks in a T-shirt or - if you'd rather take it easy - bivouacking with a summer sleeping bag, perhaps next to a romantically rippling snow pond!
2022 as a whole also broke various records, although not everyone has fully evaluated their data yet. In Switzerland, we already know that 2022 was the warmest year since records began in 1864. In Austria, as of 22 December, 2022 was one of the three warmest years since records began. In Germany, as of 30 December, it was not yet possible to say exactly whether it would be enough for a new top ranking, or whether 2022 would still fall just short of the previous leader 2018 - there is probably a tie. In summary, we are living in interesting times.
