Culture · Science · The weather record
The Weather of 2002
Observations at Vellmar, with the level of the Ostra, fog on the river and the state of Lake Tarn at Tarnmund, as recorded by The Tarnmund Observatory, observing since 1869. Temperatures in degrees, rainfall in millimetres.
The months
| Month | Mean | Warmest day | Coldest night | Rain | Fog days | Frost days | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -2.1° | 10° | -12° | 41 mm | 9 | 31 | |
| February | -0.7° | 10° | -9° | 41 mm | 8 | 22 | |
| March | 3.6° | 13° | -7° | 51 mm | 7 | 0 | |
| April | 8.9° | 22° | -1° | 62 mm | 0 | 0 | Fog on the marsh most mornings. |
| May | 14.2° | 26° | 6° | 88 mm | 0 | 0 | Dry; dust on the Marschau road. |
| June | 17.5° | 28° | 6° | 110 mm | 0 | 0 | Rain for the Victory Day parade. |
| July | 19.8° | 29° | 10° | 45 mm | 1 | 0 | Dry and warm; Lake Tarn low at Tarnmund. |
| August | 19.6° | 33° | 11° | 47 mm | 3 | 0 | Thunder over the Kesselhöh on several evenings. |
| September | 15.9° | 27° | 4° | 43 mm | 6 | 0 | Hail at Kessel. |
| October | 11.3° | 21° | 1° | 48 mm | 11 | 0 | The reed harvest was gathered in good order. |
| November | 6.6° | 16° | -2° | 54 mm | 8 | 0 | Fog persistent on the lower Ostra; the ferries stopped. |
| December | 3.4° | 15° | -9° | 55 mm | 8 | 0 | The Ostra carried ice at Vellmar bridge. |
Lake Tarn
The lake froze at Tarnmund on 19 February 2002, as the towns reported and bore the weight of a man by the end of the month; the ferry to the eastern shore was replaced by a marked path. The thaw is recorded on 22 March 2002.
The Ostra
The river rose to 2.4 metres above its mark at Vellmar bridge at the highest. 61 days of fog were recorded on the lower river, the ferries stopping when the far bank could not be seen.
The Observatory's note
The Tarnmund Observatory certifies the foregoing as the record of 2002, compiled from the Vellmar station, the lakeside station at Tarnmund and the garrison readings at Marschau. Readings on the Osmoor beyond the Reed Line are not taken. The Observatory notes that the front-line report received each evening from the War Ministry makes no mention of the weather at the front, and that none is expected.
Warmest month, 19.8°; coldest, -2.1°. Means are of the month; the warmest day and coldest night are the extremes recorded.
Weather in the public record
- 16 January 2002, Marschau. The Ostra rises 50 centimetres above its mark at Marschau. Cellars in Printer Street are flooded. Report.
- 17 January 2002, Norrhafen. A storm strips roofs in Norrhafen and fells the old lime in Lime Square. Report.
- 18 January 2002, Dammsee. A storm strips roofs in Dammsee and fells the old lime in Church Lane. Report.
- 7 February 2002, Norrbruck. A storm strips roofs in Norrbruck and fells the old lime in Weaver Gate. Report.
- 19 February 2002, Dammberg. The coldest night in 30 years is recorded at Dammberg. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 25 February 2002, Sudholt. A storm strips roofs in Sudholt and fells the old lime in Cooper Square. Report.
- 5 April 2002, Hollhausen. A storm strips roofs in Hollhausen and fells the old lime in Low Row. Report.
- 10 April 2002, Hollhausen. A storm strips roofs in Hollhausen and fells the old lime in Church Quay. Report.
- 22 April 2002, Norrhafen. The coldest night in 20 years is recorded at Norrhafen. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 17 June 2002, Sudholt. The coldest night in 30 years is recorded at Sudholt. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 10 July 2002, Norrbruck. The Ostra rises 40 centimetres above its mark at Norrbruck. Cellars in Old Gate Street are flooded. Report.
- 10 August 2002, Kessel. The Ostra rises 70 centimetres above its mark at Kessel. Cellars in Printer Square are flooded. Report.
- 31 August 2002, Grauburg. A storm strips roofs in Grauburg and fells the old lime in Forge Street. Report.
- 21 September 2002, Sandfeld. The coldest night in 80 years is recorded at Sandfeld. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 24 September 2002, Berging. The coldest night in 30 years is recorded at Berging. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 22 October 2002, Berging. The coldest night in 50 years is recorded at Berging. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 4 November 2002, Reedtal. A storm strips roofs in Reedtal and fells the old lime in Ostra Street. Report.
- 14 November 2002, Sudfurt. The coldest night in 80 years is recorded at Sudfurt. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 11 December 2002, Sudfurt. The Ostra rises 70 centimetres above its mark at Sudfurt. Cellars in Printer Quay are flooded. Report.