This February will go down in history as a month of weather extremes. While northern regions of Germany experienced the snowiest winter in 14 years, the country's southwest recorded a record-breaking 23 degrees Celsius. The sudden arrival of spring-like temperatures at the end of the month triggered an earlier plant pollination period, posing a serious challenge for allergy sufferers. The synoptic situation in Europe remains dynamic, combining high-altitude skiing with almost summer-like conditions in the lowlands.
Record Heat in February
In southwestern Germany, thermometers showed 23 degrees, setting historical temperature records for the month.
Snowy Winter in the North
Berlin and northern states recorded the heaviest snowfall in 14 years, contrasting with the warm southern part of the country.
Difficult Season for Allergy Sufferers
The premature warming caused a sudden start to plant pollination, which will significantly extend this year's pollination period.
The end of February 2026 brought Central and Southern Europe an unprecedented range of atmospheric phenomena. In southwestern regions of Germany, temperatures reaching 23 degrees Celsius were recorded, prompting meteorologists to announce new records for the month. Such high values are more typical of May than the last month of winter. Spring-like conditions also prevailed in Berlin, Brandenburg, and Thuringia, where thermometers indicated over 20 degrees. This phenomenon is the result of an influx of warm air masses that displaced the earlier frost. This situation has triggered immediate natural and health effects. Medical experts warn that the sudden temperature rise has caused an earlier start to the allergy season. People suffering from hay fever must prepare for a longer and more intense exposure to plant pollen, which under normal conditions begins to pollinate much later. Pollinosis has struck with double force this year, as confirmed by data from many environmental monitoring centers. The trend of warming winter seasons in Central Europe has been observed since the 1990s, leading to more frequent occurrence of so-called snowless winters in lowlands and extreme temperature swings. Despite local heatwaves, the overall winter balance in other parts of the continent looks quite different. Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern recorded the most snow since 2012, and in some regions even since 14 years ago. Meanwhile, in Saarland, the winter was marked by record rainfall with a simultaneous deficit of sunlight. This weather anomaly shows enormous climatic diversity across a relatively small area of Europe, where at the same time some regions grapple with snow paralysis while others face hydrological drought. „Es war ein Februar der Extreme: von Frost zu Frühling innerhalb weniger Wochen.” (It was a February of extremes: from frost to spring within a few weeks.) — German Meteorological Service Due to the warming, winter sports centers in Hesse and Bavaria are preparing to end the season. Skiers are taking advantage of the final days on the slopes, while the first flowers bloom in the valleys. However, meteorologists warn of an approaching low-pressure front that is expected to bring cloud cover and precipitation, ending this unusual episode of February heatwaves.