Precipitation in North Rhine-Westphalia
Precipitation in North Rhine-Westphalia stood at 44.1 mm in Sep 2026, according to German Meteorological Service (DWD), Climate Data Center. It is one of the indicators in the Monthly climate by region table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1881 to Sep 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Monthly climate by region table
| Indicator | 09-2026 | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 39.5 | 60.5 | 43.7 | 65.9 | 66.7 | 26.2 | 35.9 | 71.8 | 44.8 | 21.1 | |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | 44.1 | 62.6 | 20.2 | 65.9 | 104.8 | 25.2 | 60.4 | 75.9 | 57.3 | 34.7 | |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | 13.9 | 54.4 | 13.2 | 51.3 | 63.2 | 19.8 | 39.5 | 90.8 | 52.7 | 24 |
Understanding precipitation in North Rhine-Westphalia
Monitored across the borders of North Rhine-Westphalia, this dataset provides the monthly precipitation accumulation in mm. The figure aggregates rain and melted frozen precipitation collected by official meteorological gauges within the state, using spatial interpolation to establish an area-weighted territorial total. It excludes non-precipitation variables such as air temperature and sunshine hours, as well as stations located in adjoining federal states or across national boundaries. Within the table, this row functions as an independent single-state indicator, contrasting with multi-state regional aggregates and providing a regional breakdown alongside the national aggregate for Germany.
Interpreting precipitation totals for this state requires assessing values against identical calendar months from multi-decade reference baselines. Sequential month-on-month shifts reflect seasonal weather patterns rather than true climatic deficits or excesses. Published monthly figures are initially provisional, reflecting automated station telemetry, and undergo regular revisions as validated records from manual gauges are integrated into the final calculation. Analysts should also note that a single state-wide average combines readings across numerous monitoring stations, which can smooth over localized variations in precipitation intensity within the state.
Frequently asked questions
- What types of weather events are captured in the precipitation total for North Rhine-Westphalia?
- The measurement captures all liquid rain along with the melted water equivalent of hail, sleet, and snow.
- Why should month-on-month changes not be used to assess drought conditions?
- Because precipitation varies according to seasonal cycles, valid assessments require comparing the same calendar month against long-term climatological baselines.
- How is the state-wide precipitation total computed from individual station readings?
- Point measurements from monitoring stations across the state are spatially interpolated to produce an area-weighted territorial average.