Fresh snow on the Rennsteig: October 2025 will break cold records!

Fresh snow on the Rennsteig: October 2025 will break cold records!

In October 2025, the weather report for Cologne struck a completely different tone than in previous years. According to reports from insuedthueringen.de We experienced a cool and rainy time, characterized by fog and dark days. For a total of 14 days the sun was not visible at all. The first snow fell on October 26th on the Rennsteig, where six centimeters of fresh snow fell in just three hours, accompanied by stormy winds.

The average temperature in October was only 5.9 degrees Celsius. This is 0.3 degrees below the climatological mean and marks the first October since September 2022 that was not significantly too warm. A notable point is that the 12 degree mark was not exceeded in October - a first in 40 years!

A look at the cold front

Last October was a surprise not only for us here, but also for large parts of Central Europe tkp.at reported. Astrophysicists are discussing the possibility of an impending little ice age, which is already making itself felt. The year 2025 is predicted to be one of the coldest years of this period, including a cold winter in 2024/25 and a crisp spring and summer. The cold snap was particularly noticeable along the Alpine arc and in the Balkan states, with record demand for heating gas in Russia and temperatures below -5 degrees in the affected regions.

Also noteworthy: This year the cold did not occur as usual around October 25th, but three weeks earlier. Snow depths of up to a quarter of a meter were recorded in countries such as Romania and Bosnia. Forecasts also indicate that we can expect more snow and autumnal temperatures next winter.

Climate change and extreme weather

The topic of climate change is omnipresent, and in this context the climate status report from Copernicus the past years. 2024 was ranked as the warmest year on record, with temperatures rising 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Extreme weather events, including severe flooding, claimed numerous lives and caused significant economic damage.

Global warming hits with full force even on these cold days. Keeping a close eye on weather events is important not only for short-term planning, but also in order not to lose sight of long-term climatic trends. Europe is now considered a climate change hotspot and the need to adapt is becoming increasingly evident. Special adaptation measures are being demonstrated by cities such as Paris, Milan and Bratislava, which are meeting the challenges of climate change with a spirit of innovation.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the winter will develop. But one thing is certain: we are writing a new chapter in our weather book and despite the cold, we are prepared.