Weather - 2023 could be the wettest year in NRW since 1881
2023 could be the wettest year in North Rhine-Westphalia since records began in 1881. December will be decisive: "The record is within reach. If it rains more than average in December, we will have a new record," meteorologist and climate expert at the German Weather Service in Essen, Thomas Kesseler-Lauterkorn, told the German Press Agency.
Kesseler-Lauterkorn does not link the high precipitation values to climate change. "This is an upward outlier year, but it is still within the normal fluctuation range."
From the beginning of the year up to and including 27 November, an NRW-wide average of 1032 liters of rain per square meter had already fallen - far more than is normally the case for the entire year (average of 870 liters on average from 1991-2020).
The previous NRW record dates back to 1966 with 1138.2 liters - a good 100 liters more than has fallen so far this year. However, Kesseler-Lauterkorn said it was quite possible that it could still rain that much in December.
According to the meteorologist's observations, it was particularly wet in the Bergisch and Sauerland regions and on the northern Lower Rhine. Almost 1800 liters per square meter fell at the Meinerzhagen weather station in the west of the Sauerland region by the end of November - with a long-term average at the station of 1361 liters. Wesel and Dinslaken on the Lower Rhine recorded 1071 liters per square meter, almost 40 percent more rain than the long-term average between 1991 and 2020.
Despite the constant rain, there is still enough space in the reservoirs, as a spokesperson for the Ruhrverband assured us. Currently (as of 28.11.), the association's eight reservoirs, which supply around 4.6 million people in the Ruhr region with water, are still around 17 percent away from full capacity. "This is all within the normal range for the time of year," said a spokesperson for the Ruhrverband. The Eifel-Rur Water Association had announced at the beginning of the week that it was releasing slightly more water from its reservoirs into the rivers in order to keep flood protection space free in the reservoirs.
Data from the Ruhrverband - Page 5 - Total reservoirs, reservoir capacity from full storage
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The high precipitation in North Rhine-Westphalia has mostly affected regions such as Bergisch, Sauerland, and the northern Lower Rhine. According to data from the Ruhrverband, Wesel and Dinslaken on the Lower Rhine have received nearly 40% more rain than average since 1991-2020. Despite the wet weather, the reservoirs in the Ruhr region still have enough capacity, with the Ruhrverband's eight reservoirs being around 17% away from full capacity.
Despite the possibility of 2023 becoming the wettest year in North Rhine-Westphalia since 1881, meteorologist Thomas Kesseler-Lauterkorn stresses that this is an outlier year and not directly linked to climate change. He adds that if December continues to rain more than average, North Rhine-Westphalia might break its own record for the most rainfall in a year.
Even as the weather in North Rhine-Westphalia remains unpredictable, with the potential for further rainfall, businesses in the region are adapting to the situation. For instance, a supermarket in the area has recently switched to quiet hours to facilitate low-noise shopping for customers who are sensitive to noise.
Despite the challenges presented by the wet weather, North Rhine-Westphalia continues to thrive in various aspects. In sports, for example, professional boxer Sturm recently secured a convincing win in a rematch against Altay, demonstrating the region's resilience and determination.
Source: www.stern.de
