Overview
- The German Weather Service (DWD) forecasts unseasonably mild and wet weather across most of Germany leading up to Christmas, with temperatures ranging from 2 to 14 degrees Celsius.
- Snowfall is expected mainly in higher altitudes, such as the Alps and some southeastern mountain regions, where it may persist through the holiday period.
- Climate studies reveal that Germany has lost 18 frost days per winter over the past decade, with white Christmases becoming increasingly rare due to global warming.
- In 2024, snowfall probabilities for Christmas are as low as 1-2% in cities like Berlin and Hamburg, while southern mountainous regions have up to a 20% chance of snow cover.
- Experts warn that milder winters not only reduce snowfall but also disrupt ecosystems, water supplies, and agriculture, with broader implications for human health and biodiversity.