Climate
Geosphere Austria presented a climate balance for last year: According to this, 2023 was the hottest year in the history of measurement, i.e. since 1768 – and this is also reflected in Styria.
12/29/2023 11/08
Online since today, 8:11am
The year 2023 started off extremely hot: at the beginning of January around 17 degrees were measured in Köflach and 13 degrees in Schöckl. Temperatures in February and March were also significantly milder than the long-term average, with only April being the only cool month of the year. A heat wave followed in July that lasted relatively long, lasting more than 16 days. September and October have never been so hot in the history of measurements.
The year was very hot and very humid
A record average temperature was recorded in Schöckl this year, says meteorologist Fritz Wölfelmaier from Geosphere Austria: “For the entire year, it has never been so hot since measurements were taken there, since 1901, and that was (on average) 5. Measured 9 degrees.”
Massive precipitation also characterized the climate in 2023. “In Styria there was 15% more (rain) than average. We still remember the extraordinary periods of flooding at the beginning of August, and now – just before Christmas – there was another heavy rain event: there were large amounts of rain with thunderstorms, especially on the north side of the Alps”, summarizes Wölfelmaier.
Fewer hours of sunshine
It was hotter and more humid, but there were also four percent fewer hours of sunshine in Styria, according to the meteorologist: “In the south, for example in Bad Radkersburg, there were still the highest number of hours of sunshine at 2,100 hours.” the hottest this year in Wagna near Leibnitz with 35.1 degrees on August 26th, the coldest in Zeltweg with minus 19.9 degrees on December 4th. According to meteorologists, no new season records were achieved in Styria this year.