brace yourself for a parched spring
Slight drizzle observed, nevertheless some precipitation remains minimal.
some rain is on its way - but it's a drop in the bucket
It's been a bone-dry start to the year, with rainfall drastically below the norm according to ntv meteorologist, Bjoern Alexander. While there's expected to be some showers over the weekend in certain regions, the long-term forecast isn't looking great. Spring will likely end up being far too dry, and the situation is severe, especially in the north where the topsoil is experiencing extreme drought.
Alexander warns that nature's water demand is high due to growth and high evaporation rates in the dry air. In the short term, it appears rain is on its way, but it won't be a huge help. The upcoming low "Lorenz" and its associated cold front could offer some chances of showers, especially in the east and south, but it won't make much of a dent in the deficit.
In the long term, there's a chance the weather pattern might change, but it's uncertain. There's hope that low-pressure systems with significant and widespread rain could gain the upper hand mid to late next week, but it's still up in the air.
The rainfall deficit is a dire 30% nationwide, with many regions receiving far less than half the normal rainfall since early March. To correct this imbalance, 120 liters per square meter would still need to fall, a feat that's theoretically possible but highly unlikely given conservative weather predictions.
The situation is grim, with farmlands suffering, river levels dropping, and forests at risk of fires. The current outlook suggests that the soils' dryness and drought conditions are likely to persist or worsen in the short term. The prospects for significant rainfall improvements in the near term remain limited.
References:- ntv.de- European weather model- NOAA (U.S. weather service)- spring of 2021- Rhine River near Cologne- France and Poland- global trends and drought management- agriculture and water resource planning
- Weather
- Meteorology
- Extreme weather
- Climate change
- Agriculture
- Water management
- Drought
- River transport
- Ecosystems
- Forest fires
In light of the anticipated parched spring, the community policy regarding water conservation might need to be strengthened. Meanwhile, the current weather forecast indicates a slight rainfall in certain regions, but this may not be enough to alleviate the severe drought, particularly in the north. Employment policies in agriculture and water management sectors may need to adapt to the unfavorable weather conditions to ensure sufficient resources are available for subsequent periods.
