In a historic revelation, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has declared 2023 as the warmest year in the heart of Prague since temperature measurements commenced in 1775 at the Prague-Klementinum meteorological station, the country’s oldest. The annual average temperature reached a significant 12.8°C, matching the previous record established in 2018. This announcement sheds light on the alarming trend of rising temperatures in the region.

Analyzing the recent data, it is noteworthy that 2018 and 2023 shared the same record-breaking average temperature of 12.8°C. The third warmest year, according to the institute, was 2019, registering an average temperature of 12.6°C. The years 2014 and 2015 closely followed with a measured average temperature of 12.5°C.

The European Union meteorological service Copernicus, in early December, had already hinted at 2023 being one of the warmest years globally since record-keeping began. This underscores the severity and widespread nature of the climate crisis, demanding urgent attention and collective action to address climate change on a global scale.

Zooming in on December 2023, the average temperature at Klementinum stood at 5.1°C, making it the 11th warmest December out of 249 recorded since 1775. Notably, the warmest December was documented in 2015, with an average temperature of 7.2°C, while the coldest traces back to 1788 when temperatures plummeted to -9.7°C.

Reflecting on the coldest years at Klementinum, 1838 and 1871 shared the same chilling average of 7.2°C. Additionally, 1786, 1829, 1864, and 1940 marked some of the coldest years with an average temperature of 7.4°C. These historical temperature patterns underscore the importance of continued monitoring and addressing climate change to safeguard the well-being of our planet.

Article by Prague Forum