2019 was the Czech Republic's second warmest year since 1961, according to meteorologists

Prague, Jan 8 (CTK) – The year 2019 has been the second warmest in the Czech Republic, after 2018, since 1961, with average temperatures reaching 9.5 degrees Celsius, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMU) reported on its website today.

Temperatures throughout 2019 were 1.6 degrees Celsius higher than the long-term average. In 2018, the average temperature was 9.6 degrees.

The years 2014 and 2015 established the third highest average temperature record, both reaching 9.4 degrees.

Most months in 2019 were warmer than the average. January and September saw normal temperatures and May was the only month that was colder than the long-term average.

The Prague-Klementinum meteorological station, which has continuously measured temperatures in Prague for 245 years, reported in early January that 2019 was the second warmest year in Prague since 1775.

The coldest country-wide measurements were taken in 1962, 1980 and 1996 with an average temperature of 6.3 degrees Celsius.

Since 2000, the average temperature has never been colder than seven degrees Celsius.

The year 2019 was also dry, although the drought was not as severe as in 2018. However, the CHMU noted that drought has been a continuous issue for the Czech Republic since 2015.

Most Czech rivers showed the lowest flow in April, July and August. Specifically in July, the values were less than half of the long-term average for the month.

The yearly level of precipitation in 2019 was 637 millimetres, making it a normal year. The most rainy month was May and the least rainy one was April.

The CHMU also evaluated air quality, stating that the most pressing issues are posed by air-borne dust, zero altitude ozone and benzopyrene, created during partial combustion processes.

The daily limit for air-borne dust particles was exceeded only in the transportation and industrial areas of Ostrava, north Moravia, and the measurement stations close to the Czech-Polish border.