Oktoberfest is usually associated with sunny autumn days, golden beer, and crowded festival tents. But history shows that Munich’s famous Wiesn has also endured extreme and sometimes dangerous weather events.
From violent storms to unexpected snowfall, the world’s largest folk festival has often been at the mercy of the skies.
Storms and hurricanes over the Theresienwiese
Back in 1871, a destructive hurricane swept across the festival grounds, tearing down tents and frightening visitors, according to historical records.
More recently, in 2018, storm “Fabienne” toppled fences around the Oidn Wiesn, forcing organizers to react quickly.
Thunderstorms and lightning have also struck. On September 24, 1999, a lightning bolt hit directly at the festival grounds during the night. Fortunately, the tents were empty at the time, and no one was injured.
Hail has made multiple appearances, with recorded events in 1936, 1970, and 2004 pelting visitors with icy stones.
Rain turns Oktoberfest into a swamp
Heavy rainfall has at times transformed the Wiesn into a muddy swamp. Chronicles from 1883 described the event as the “Swamp Oktoberfest”.
In 1927, rain fell every single day of the festival, dampening spirits and drenching traditional outfits.
On September 21, 2000, a thunderstorm delivered nearly 65 liters of rain per square meter onto the grounds, creating hazardous conditions.
Even in recent years, such as 2022, chilly temperatures and constant rain left many visitors opting for mulled wine instead of the usual Maß of beer.
Snowfall and freezing Oktoberfest days
Snow at Oktoberfest may sound like fantasy, but it has happened multiple times.
The coldest festival day ever measured came on September 29, 1936, with temperatures dropping to –2.5°C. Snowfall was recorded in 1829, 1867, 1888, and 1956.
In 1996, snow fell on the final Sunday of Oktoberfest, covering beer benches and tents in a white blanket.
Similarly, on September 24, 2002, visitors once again saw flakes drifting down on the Theresienwiese. Since then, the festival has been spared a major winter episode — but history suggests it is always possible.
Sunshine and drought years
Of course, not every extreme was unpleasant. In 1986, Oktoberfest went down in history as completely rain-free, with sunshine lasting up to 10 hours a day.
In contrast, gloomy editions in 1954, 1981, and 2004 saw no full day of sunshine.
Meteorological data for Oktoberfest has been systematically collected since 1879, but temperature records in Munich stretch even further back to 1781, when the Augustinian monastery in the city began taking measurements.
