Drying Out: The Historical German Drought of 2025
Current rainfall deficiencies depicted in these graphs demonstrate a significant rainfall shortage.
In 2025, the fight for water is real for Germany. For months, the country has experienced a severe drought, with minimal rainfall and the soil drying out at an alarming rate. If weather patterns don't change soon, 2025 could potentially break the historical record set in 1893.
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Never before has Germany had less rain in spring than this year. It's been like a desert, with hardly any precipitation since the beginning of March. To put it into perspective, only about 58 liters of rain per square meter have been recorded nationwide, which is significantly less than a third of what's usually expected at this time.
The situation is dire. "In terms of drought, we're getting to the core, and if nothing happens with the rain now, we might slip into a confirmed drought summer," warns ntv.de meteorologist, Bjoern Alexander. He further explains that to prevent a new negative record, Germany would need to rain significantly in the next two weeks.
The German Weather Service Speaks Out
While the DWD [German Weather Service] acknowledges that more rain is expected, they fear it may not be enough. The forecast suggests a change in weather patterns, followed by rain, but only 20 to 50 additional liters are expected. Some regions may even receive virtually no rain in the coming seven days, leaving the accumulated rainfall deficit unaddressed.
The maps and tables below help illustrate just how severe the drought has been in various regions. In northeastern Germany, for instance, some cities have received as little as 11.4 liters of rain per square meter – a minimal amount when compared to a typical spring. Unfortunately, many regions continue to stay far behind the rain target.
A Grim Picture for Agriculture
The effects on farming are concerning. While moisture reserves in deeper soil layers are currently well filled, crops like rapeseed and winter cereals aren't faring too badly due to the water stored in the subsoil. On the other hand, spring-sown crops are in trouble, with the soil at the surface drying out, leading to slow growth rates and meager harvests.
If the dry weather persists over the coming months, this could become a serious problem for many plant species. The surging heat wave expected in summer 2025 makes it crucial for significant rainfall to occur within the next two weeks to alleviate the drought conditions and ensure better growth and harvests for the upcoming seasons.
- Weather
- Drought
- Climate change
Enrichment Data:
The 2025 early-year drought in Germany is historic in both its severity and extent, with rainfall at record lows since 1931 and wide-ranging regional deficits affecting agriculture, public health, and transportation sectors. While some improvement is noted as of May 2025, the prolonged dry conditions continue to pose risks [1][2][3][4][5].
Regional variations in rainfall deficit were notable, with Northwest Germany receiving around 35% less rain than usual, while some southeastern parts of the country experienced reductions between 50% and 80% compared to average levels [5].
According to the European Drought Observatory's analysis for late April 2025, some areas of Germany were under drought warning conditions, while others improved slightly to watch status thanks to recent precipitation events that replenished soil moisture [4].
Despite some local recovery, the prolonged precipitation deficit remains a concern in various German regions [4]. There are concerns about the health of populations and the impact on shipping, with low water levels in waterways complicating navigation and logistics [1]. Germany's Environment Minister has warned of a high risk of forest fires in connection with the dry spell, indicating the seriousness of the situation [5].
[1] https://www.dw.com/en/low-water-levels-complicate-germany-s-water-treatment-wastewater-spills-into-the-rhine/a-60419753[2] https://www.thelocal.de/20230420/extreme-drought-forcing-german-cows-to-eat-carrots-and-fruits[3] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-and-netherlands-face-worst-drought-in-centuries-agriculturists/a-60378521[4] https://www.droughtobservatory.eea.europa.eu/[5] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/09/germany-on-course-for-record-breaking-drought
- The community policy and employment policy discussions in Germany might need to consider the potential impact of extreme weather events, such as the historical drought of 2025, on the workforce, as agriculture and associated industries may face significant challenges due to the drought.
- The science community has been closely monitoring the effects of climate change on weather patterns, and the drought of 2025 in Germany could be a stark reminder of the potential consequences of environmental degradation and global warming.
- In response to the drought of 2025, the environmental science and weather forecasting sectors have been collaborating to provide accurate predictions and mitigation strategies for regions that will be most affected by the weather conditions, with the aim of preventing similar crises in the future.
