Summer 2025 vs 2024 Germany: If you lived through summer 2025 you probably remember two things above all, the heatwave at the end of June with peak temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius in southern Germany, and the rainy July that ruined many holiday plans. But how does summer 2025 actually compare to the previous year in the data?
The numbers are surprisingly close. The mean summer temperature (June to August) in Germany in 2025 was around 18.3 degrees Celsius, while summer 2024 came in slightly higher at 18.5 degrees. That makes 2024 the warmer summer, despite the more dramatic heatwaves in 2025. The difference lies in persistence: 2024 had fewer extreme peaks but sustained above-average temperatures without the rainy phases.
Precipitation tells the opposite story. July 2025 was significantly wetter than July 2024 across large parts of Germany. The south and centre of the country in particular recorded 40 to 60 per cent more rainfall than the long-term average. This one outlier month dragged down the overall balance of summer 2025 considerably.
Sunshine hours are also unevenly distributed. June 2025 was sunny and dry in Munich while August 2025 was cloudier than the previous year. In Hamburg the picture was reversed: August 2025 brought more sunshine than 2024, while July 2025 was equally grey and rainy as in the south.
What does this mean for climate development? Both summers were significantly above the 1961–1990 reference average. The key question is no longer "Was it warmer than before?" but "How is the distribution of warmth changing?" Short intense heatwaves interrupted by wet phases seem to be the emerging pattern. Use the tool below to compare summer 2024 and 2025 for your location directly.