die  Wetterlage

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈvɛtɐˌlaːɡə/

🌦️ What does "die Wetterlage" mean?

The word die Wetterlage describes the overall meteorological conditions (like temperature, air pressure, wind, cloud cover, precipitation) over a larger area and for a specific period (often several hours to days). So, it's not just about the current weather at one location, but about the large-scale weather situation.

Imagine looking at a weather map for all of Europe – what you see there (high-pressure systems, low-pressure systems, fronts) describes die Wetterlage.

There is only one article for this word: die. It is a feminine noun.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar under the Microscope: die Wetterlage

The noun "Wetterlage" is feminine. The article is always die.

Declension

Example Sentences

• Die aktuelle Wetterlage begünstigt die Entstehung von Gewittern.
  (The current weather situation favors the development of thunderstorms.)
• Der Meteorologe erklärte die komplizierte Wetterlage über Mitteleuropa.
  (The meteorologist explained the complicated weather situation over Central Europe.)
• Aufgrund der unsicheren Wetterlage wurde das Fest abgesagt.
  (Due to the uncertain weather situation, the festival was cancelled.)
• Wir beobachten verschiedene Wetterlagen im Laufe des Jahres.
  (We observe different weather situations over the course of the year.)

💬 How to use "Wetterlage"?

"Wetterlage" is mainly used in contexts referring to the weather over a larger area and period. Typical use cases include:

• Weather forecasts: Meteorologists describe die Wetterlage to explain the upcoming weather (e.g., "eine stabile Hochdruckwetterlage" - a stable high-pressure weather situation).
• News and warnings: During special events like storms, heatwaves, or cold snaps, people talk about a specific Wetterlage (e.g., "gefährliche Wetterlage" - dangerous weather situation).
• General conversations about climate: One can discuss the typical Wetterlage in a certain season or region.
• Planning: When planning outdoor activities or trips, people check the expected Wetterlage.

Difference from "Wetter": While "das Wetter" often refers to the current conditions at a specific location ("Das Wetter heute ist schön" - The weather today is nice), "die Wetterlage" describes the bigger picture and the underlying atmospheric systems.

🧠 Mnemonics for Wetterlage

Article Aid: The word ends in "-lage". Many German nouns ending in "-lage" are feminine (die Grundlage - foundation, die Anlage - facility/enclosure, die Beilage - side dish...). Think of: The Lage (situation, position) of things (here: of the weather) is feminine – so it's die Wetterlage.

Meaning Aid: Imagine a large map where weather symbols (sun, clouds, lightning) are lying like on a blanket. This "weather blanket" that lies (liegt) over the land is die Wetterlage (the weather situation).

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

Potential for Confusion

• Wetter (das): Often refers to the current conditions at one place, not the large-scale situation.
• Klima (das): Describes the average weather conditions over a very long period (decades).

😄 A Little Weather Joke

Lehrer: "Was ist eine Vb-Wetterlage?"
Fritzchen: "Wenn Vati beim Camping den Grill anzündet und plötzlich Regen kommt!"

Teacher: "What is a Vb weather situation?"
Little Fritz: "When Dad lights the barbecue while camping and suddenly it starts raining!"

(Note: A Vb weather situation [pronounced "Five-B"] is a meteorological term for a specific track of low-pressure systems often bringing heavy rain.)

📜 Poem about the Weather Situation

Die Wetterlage, sie wechselt schnell,
Mal Sonne hell, mal Wolken grau und grell.
Ein Tief zieht auf mit Wind und Nass,
Dann Hochdruck kommt, welch ein Spaß!
Mal Sturm, mal Flaute, mal Hitzerekord,
Die Lage ändert sich an jedem Ort.
So bleibt das Wetter, wie es ist:
Ein steter Wandel, zu jeder Frist.

(The weather situation, it changes fast,
Sometimes bright sun, sometimes clouds grey and vast.
A low approaches with wind and wet,
Then high pressure comes, what fun, you bet!
Sometimes storm, sometimes calm, sometimes heat record high,
The situation changes everywhere beneath the sky.
So the weather remains as it tends to be:
A constant change, for all eternity.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich beschreibe Sonne, Wind und Regen,
Auf Karten kannst du meine Systeme sehen.
Ich bin nicht nur das Wetter heut' und hier,
Sondern großräumig bestimme ich das Flair.
Ich habe Hochs und Tiefs im Repertoire.
Was bin ich, feminin und oft erklärt?

(I describe sun, wind, and rain,
On maps, you can see my systems plain.
I'm not just the weather today and here,
But large-scale, I determine the atmosphere.
I have highs and lows in my repertoire.
What am I, feminine and often explained near and far?)

Solution: die Wetterlage

🧩 Other Info about Wetterlage

Word Composition

The word "Wetterlage" is a compound noun (Kompositum), formed from:

• das Wetter: the weather
• die Lage: the situation, position, or distribution

So, it literally describes the "situation/position of the weather".

Großwetterlage

A related term is Großwetterlage. This describes the weather situation over an even larger area (e.g., Europe or the North Atlantic) and serves as the basis for medium-range weather forecasts.