This year's February in Central Europe is going down in history as a month of extremes. While thermometers in southwestern Germany indicated a record 23 degrees Celsius, other regions grappled with the heaviest snowfall and rainfall in years. The sudden arrival of spring-like weather in Bavaria, Berlin, and Thuringia is closing the winter ski season, while hydrologists analyze the balance of an exceptionally wet and frosty start to the year.
Record Heat in the South
In southwestern Germany, temperatures reached 23 degrees, beating previous records for February.
End of Ski Season
High temperatures forced the closure of slopes in Hesse and other mid-mountain regions.
Wet Winter in Saarland
Saarland recorded record rainfall totals with the lowest sunshine duration in years.
Berlin's Snow Record
Despite sudden warming, this winter in the German capital was the snowiest in 14 years.
The ending February of 2026 has been recorded in meteorological chronicles as a period of unprecedented weather anomalies in Germany and Austria. Temperatures reaching 23 degrees Celsius were recorded in southwestern regions of Germany, likely beating previous records for this month. Warm air masses also covered Berlin, Brandenburg, and Thuringia, where mercury regularly exceeded the 20-degree barrier. This sudden heatwave prompted a premature end to the ski season in Hesse, where winter sports enthusiasts could only take their final runs before the complete melting of the snow cover. Despite the spring-like finale, the balance of the entire winter reveals a diverse picture of the continent. Berlin recorded its snowiest winter in 14 years, and in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, snowfall was the most intense since 2012. Meanwhile, in Saarland, winter was marked by record rainfall with an almost complete lack of sunshine. Similar phenomena were observed in Austria, where winter was classified as exceptionally mild, but in places very cloudy and dry. Meteorologists are closely watching these changes, pointing to the increasingly frequent occurrence of extreme phenomena in short intervals. Historically, February in Central Europe was associated with the strongest frosts and stable snow cover, linked to the influence of the Siberian High. The current shifting of seasonal boundaries and recording of temperatures typical for May in February is the subject of intensive research on the destabilization of the jet stream.Forecasts for the turn of February and March indicate an upcoming cooldown. A low-pressure system is moving over Germany, which after a period of idyllic sunny weather will bring clouds, rain, and fog, particularly visible in Bavaria. While residents of the capital could enjoy the sun on Saturday, Sunday promises to be much cooler. Experts emphasize that such sudden temperature jumps are difficult for vegetation, which under the influence of February sun started prematurely, exposing crops to potential March frosts. „Nach Sonne und 23 Grad: Tief sorgt für Wolken und Schauer” (After sun and 23 degrees: Low pressure brings clouds and showers) — Meteorological Services Weather Extremes of February 2026: Max. Temperature (SW Germany): approx. 21°C (old record) → 23°C; Snow Cover (Berlin): long-term average → most in 14 years; Precipitation (Saarland): national average → record rainfall
Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media strongly emphasize linking record temperatures to the climate crisis and the need for immediate emission reductions. Conservative media focus on practical aspects of weather, such as conditions for tourism and precipitation balance for agriculture.