Czechia Likely to Record Warmest Year in History

For the first time since records began, the Czech Republic’s average annual temperature is expected to surpass 10 degrees Celsius.

If November and December maintain average conditions, the annual average will reach 10.3°C—0.6°C higher than 2023.

This historic milestone was reported by Jáchym Brzezina, a meteorologist from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute in Brno, on the X social network. The country’s temperature records date back to 1775 in Prague’s Klementinum and to 1800 in Brno.

A Year of Unbroken Records

Every month in 2024 has been above the 1991–2020 average, making this year exceptional compared to previous warm years. February, in particular, stood out with a record-breaking temperature increase of more than 6°C above average.

March was nearly 4°C warmer, while August and September exceeded average temperatures by at least 2°C. The last month to record below-average temperatures was May 2023.

Meteorologist Brzezina predicts that November will also be above average based on current trends, further solidifying this year’s record-breaking status.

Comparing Historical Trends

Recent years highlight the rapid warming of the Czech climate. In 2023, the country was 1.4°C warmer than the 1991–2020 average, and 2.2°C warmer than the 1961–1990 baseline. If 2024’s predicted annual temperature of 10.3°C holds, it will represent an increase of 2.8°C compared to 1961–1990, or almost 3°C higher.

Central Europe is warming at twice the global average rate, according to climatologists. While global warming values are approaching 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels (1.48°C in 2023), the Czech Republic’s increase is closer to 3°C.

Global Implications and Unanswered Questions

Experts predict that 2024 will not only be the warmest year in Czech history but also the warmest globally. Scientists have long anticipated gradual warming over the coming decades, but 2023’s unexpected temperature surge in the second half of the year has prompted further investigation. Multiple hypotheses have been proposed, but no definitive explanation has been found.

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