2024 the Warmest Year since 1901

The year 2024 saw the warmest weather in Hungary since 1901, and following a rainy year in 2023, last year was again droughty, HungaroMet writes in its analysis of the year 2024.

Last year, the average temperature nationwide was 12.91 degrees Celsius, 2.1 degrees above the average of 10.72 degrees recorded in the years 1991-2020 and the highest annual average since the beginning of the 20th century.

Until last year, the warmest year on record was 2023; the annual mean temperature in 2024 was 0.7 degrees Celsius higher than the year before.

reads the analysis of the Hungarian meteorological service.

The mean temperature for the year was above 13 degrees in many places on the plains, generally exceeding 13.5 degrees in the southern part of the Great Plain, and reaching 14 degrees in places near the southern border. In the western part of Transdanubia and in the north-eastern part of the country, the average temperature was typically between 12 and 13 degrees Celsius, in the mountainous areas between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius, while annual average temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius were only recorded at higher altitudes.

February was by far the month that deviated the most from the climatic norm, with 7 degrees above average, the mildest second month since 1901, and the largest deviation in monthly averages since then.

The following March was also the mildest since the beginning of the 20th century.

Nationally, July was also the hottest, August the second hottest, June the fifth hottest and April the eighth hottest since 1901. The other months were generally 1-2 degrees warmer than average, with only November being cooler than average.

36 degrees Celsius is read on a display during the third degree heat alert in July. Photo: MTI/Krizsán Csaba

In terms of seasons, the winter of 2023/2024, the spring of 2024 and the summer of 2024 were also the warmest since 1901.

A table compiled for the analysis show that the list of the 10 warmest years since the start of the 20th century includes only years post-2000.

Eight of the last ten years are on this list.

After a rainy year in 2023, 2024 was again droughty, with rainfall deficits for most months and only small parts of the country receiving near-normal amounts of precipitation. Last year’s rainfall totals were 517.4 millimeters on average for the country as a whole, according to preliminary data, 16 percent below the average of 616.0 millimeters for the years 1991-2020.

The highest precipitation for the year was recorded at Kékestető (northern Hungary; here is the highest point in the country, Kékes), 820.3 millimeters, and the lowest at Debrecen airport station (eastern Hungary), 335.4 millimeters.

Annual precipitation of over 700 millimeters occurred only in the mountains and near the western and south-western borders, while in the north and most of Transdanubia it generally exceeded 500 millimeters, while most of the Great Plain was below this level.

Drought-hit sunflower field in August. Photo: MTI/Komka Péter

The lowest annual precipitation totals were recorded in the southern and eastern parts of the Great Plain, with less than 400 millimeters recorded over a large area in the southern part of the Transdanubian region. The national average rainfall totals for most months were below the 1991-2020 average.

There were also significant rainfall deficits in February, March, July, August, November and December, with July and August being the seventh and ninth driest since 1901 respectively.

Rainfall in January, April, May and October was close to average, with June being a slightly wet month. The highest rainfall surplus was recorded in September, when precipitation was 63 percent above normal after a hot and dry summer.

Hottest Summer on Record since Measurements Began