Summary

A report published Aug. 21, 2026, compares a German weather forecast from 2001 with a forecast issued for the same date in 2026, according to the report. The comparison examines predictions for Aug. 21 and notes similarities and differences in the two forecasts.

The report was published by Watts Up With That, a website focusing on weather and climate commentary. The German Weather Service (DWD) had not commented on the report as of publication, the report said.

The post that carries the comparison begins with a note on language. "Escalating climate language: 25 years ago, 28 C was 'pleasant'…today it is called 'extremely dangerous'," the post states. The post also states that it cannot be sure of the authenticity of the two forecasts, but calls the difference in language tone "definitely accurate." [1]

The 2001 Forecast

According to the report, the 2001 forecast was issued by the DWD for Aug. 21. It predicted temperatures between 16 C and 24 C, partly cloudy skies and isolated showers. The report quotes the archived forecast: "A low-pressure system over the North Sea will bring unsettled conditions to northern Germany." [1]

The report states that the archived text did not include references to satellite or radar data. The report describes the 2001 product as a general summary of the large-scale weather pattern rather than a detailed map set.

The 2026 Forecast

The 2026 forecast for Aug. 21 predicted temperatures between 18 C and 27 C and thunderstorms in southern Bavaria, according to the report. The report quotes the current forecast: "Thunderstorms may produce heavy rain and local flooding in the afternoon."

According to the report, the current forecast includes hourly precipitation probabilities and wind gust maps generated by high-resolution models. The current forecast was updated multiple times during the day, the report said.

Forecast products of this kind are used for planning. As Kevin Hile writes in "The Handy Weather Answer Book," predicting heat or cold waves can help utility companies plan for surges in consumers’ use of air conditioners and furnaces. [2]

The report contrasts that product with the 2001 text, which included no such data. The report does not rank the two forecasts; it documents their content.

Comparison and Findings

The report says both forecasts called for mixed conditions, but the 2026 forecast had greater spatial detail. According to the report, the 2001 forecast identified the same large-scale weather pattern as the 2026 forecast for the same calendar date. The report’s author wrote: "The old forecast held up well against the modern product."

The report notes that forecast verification data for both periods are available from the DWD and other meteorological sources. The two texts also differ in presentation. As John D. Cox writes in "Weather for Dummies," some meteorologists at private forecasting firms employ a more user-friendly "public communications meteorology" that is intended to better describe how the day's weather is likely to go than the U.S. National Weather Service's way of saying things. [3]

Reactions and Context

A meteorologist quoted in the report said forecast skill has increased in recent decades because of improvements in computing. A second source, identified as a climate policy observer, said the comparison shows that "weather forecasting and climate projection are different tasks." The report did not include a response from the DWD; according to the report, an agency spokesperson was not available for comment.

European weather in 2026 has included record heat. According to BBC News, Germany set a new all-time high for the second day in a row in June, as temperatures reached 41.5 C based on provisional data. [4] In separate commentary on the same website, a post published Aug. 4, 2026, said: "Not surprisingly, the media are busy using the hot weather to further promote climate alarm and get more clicks however they can." [5]

Other coverage has reported on the language and definitions used for heat.

A 2022 NaturalNews.com article said the DWD redefined the term "heatwave" to emphasize climate alarmism concerns: "The new definition categorizes any three consecutive days with high temperatures of 28 C as a heatwave, down from five consecutive days above 30 C previously." [6] A 2019 NaturalNews.com article reported that a study out of Germany offered evidence that gravity waves may be a more probable explanation for some extreme weather phenomena than climate change. [7]

Conclusion

The comparison, as presented by Watts Up With That, is not described by the report as a formal verification study. It pairs one archived forecast with one contemporary forecast for the same calendar date and records their main differences. According to the report, the DWD had not commented on the comparison as of Aug. 21.

The report’s author said the older forecast "held up well against the modern product." The report says its purpose is limited to documenting the two forecasts and their principal differences. [1]

References

1. "Comparison Of Two German Weather Forecasts: From 25 Years Ago and From Today". Watts Up With That. August 21, 2026.
2. Kevin Hile. "The Handy Weather Answer Book".
3. John D. Cox. "Weather for Dummies".
4. BBC News. "Heatwave breaks more records in northern and central EuropeGermany, Denmark and the Czech republic are among the countries recording new all-time high temperatures." June 27, 2026.
5. "Farce Of The Week: Germany’s Weather Site Donnerwetter.de Attempts To Measure The Rhine River’s Temperature!". Watts Up With That. August 5, 2026.
6. Mary Villareal. "Germany redefines heatwave to scare people into believing fraudulent climate change narrative". NaturalNews.com. September 5, 2022.
7. NaturalNews.com. "Extreme weather is often caused by gravity waves rather than climate change research shows". NaturalNews.com. February 17, 2019.

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