Based on meteorological data analysed up to and including 26 December, AgriMeteo has said that 2022 will be the hottest year ever recorded since 1838, , in the grand duchy. AgriMeteo is part of the agriculture ministry’s Administration of Technical Agricultural Services (Asta)

With a record average of 10.9°C, the annual temperature is 1.0°C above the 1991-2020 reference average, AgriMeteo on 27 December. Throughout the seasons, heat waves and temperature peaks have warmed the grand duchy. The winter of 2022 saw an average temperature of 3.4°C (+1.3°C) and the spring saw an average temperature of 9.8°C, with an excess of between +0.3 and +0.8°C.

Last summer, Luxembourg experienced historic temperatures. The average temperature was 19.3°C with a maximum of 36°C, the second hottest summer ever measured. There were also a record 60 summer days above 25°C and 20 temperature peaks above 30°C.

Finally, the autumn of 2022 was also very mild with an average temperature of 11.1°C, the fourth warmest autumn ever measured, with an excess of between +1.3 and +1.6°C.

Prolonged soil dryness

AgriMeteo also pointed out that 2022 was marked by a prolonged period of soil dryness. As a result, the level of precipitation was below the climatic normal. In particular, the summer of 2022 was the driest since 1921, with July recording a rainfall deficit of -92% and August of -65%. Together with the heat waves, the prolonged lack of rainfall hampered the development of agricultural crops.

‘Without the effect of climate change, soil drought would have been about three to four times less likely, and summer heat waves less intense,” concluded Andrew Ferrone, head of the meteorological service and head of the Luxembourg delegation to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, referring to the analysis of the World Weather Attribution experts for Central and Western Europe.

Impact on agriculture

In Luxembourg, the agricultural crops have been impacted by varying degrees throughout the seasons of 2022. Winter wheat, summer cereals, potatoes and especially forage crops such as maize as well as meadows and pastures have suffered greatly. Vegetable crops have enjoyed a long season, but at the cost of continuous and expensive irrigation.

In fruit growing, the harvest was good for cherries, mirabelle plums and plums, but mixed for apples and pears. The maize harvest was very early. The same was true for winegrowing: the historically early harvest began on 22 August, a month earlier than normal, with an excellent vintage, but with quantities revised downwards.

Originally published in French by and translated for Delano