Unbelievable Dry Spell: showcasing the severity of the current drought in Germany
The depicted charts underscore the current severe drought circumstances
Time and again, Germany has been hit by a brutal drought. The rain hardly falls, leaving the ground parched. With no significant shift in the weather, this prolonged dry spell just might break the historic record from 1893.
Giddy-up, Germany! Never has it been this dry! Spring 2025 has been the driest on record, according to rainfall balance figures for mid-May. The rain is simply nowhere to be found, and the weather isn't looking too promising.
Jumping on the Bandwagon First, a Region Acts. Drought, Prices Skyrocket - "Water, it's going to be costly!" The future's looking grim - a new negative record might be looming in 2025. This data analysis from ntv.de puts a spotlight on the devastating rain deficit in this spring, the regions that are suffering the most, and the drought's growing grip on larger parts of Germany.
Only a Third of the Usual Rainfall
"If we don't see any rain soon, we're looking at a confirmed drought summer," warns meteorologist Bjoern Alexander from ntv.de. The German Meteorological Service (DWD) concurs, reporting alarming heights for the rainfall—only 58 liters per square meter nationwide from the beginning of March to mid-May. That's just a third of what's considered usual for this time of year.
This year beats the worst drought periods in German weather history. According to DWD records, at least 85.3 liters per square meter fell during the driest spring on record in 1893. In spring 2011, which previously held second place in the ranking of the worst seasonal balances, it was 89.5 liters per square meter. To avoid a new negative record, Germany needs substantial rainfall over the next two weeks—an average of about 25 to 30 liters per square meter.
Weather Change Brings Rain - but Likely not Enough
Despite a shift in the weather pattern promising rain, the expected waterfall does not stand a chance of making up for the massive deficit. The gap to the average spring is still enormous. "To achieve a balanced rainfall balance by the end of May, around 120 liters per square meter are still needed," says Alexander from ntv.de.
Unfortunately, models suggest that only 20 to 50 additional liters are to be expected in specific regions. There's little hope for the rest of the country. Some regions might see almost no rain in the next seven days according to the DWD. And that will hardly make up for the accumulated rainfall deficit.
The map above showcases drainage areas based on current and historical station data. It emphasizes the extreme dryness in the current month of May. Even local heavy rain events have barely made a dent in the deficit. So desktop or phone screens, best keep the tissues handy—for the tears streaming down after seeing each station fall short of the rain target.
The table below provides details on the current rainfall amounts for all stations in the DWD network. It also reveals that in the last seven days, hardly any rainfall was recorded at most locations. Even where a bit more rain fell recently, it only amounted to a small fraction of the monthly average.
March and April saw similar monthly results. "The driest regions have received less than 20, in some cases even less than 10 liters of rain per square meter since the beginning of March," says Alexander.
Know-how | Temperature Forecaster Scientists Predict a Hot Summer in Europe Particularly dry conditions have been observed in northeastern Germany over the past two and a half months. The town of Kuhbier in northwestern Brandenburg serves as an example, with only 11.4 liters per square meter recorded—a paltry drop on a hot stone, according to the DWD's assessment.
Almost a Third of Germany Affected by Severe Drought
The extended dry spell tells on the ground. The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research's Drought Monitor pinpoints the current moisture content in various soil layers compared to a normal value range derived from a long-term average.
The current maps reveal that a pronounced drought already stretches across vast portions of Germany. Almost 30 percent of the entire country was recently affected by "extreme" or "exceptional" drought, according to the UFZ. An additional 23 percent is plagued by severe drought.
In the uppermost soil layers, the situation has deteriorated markedly in recent weeks. The entire north of Germany is shown in deep red up to the midlands.
By contrast, in long-term UFZ data, larger drought situations have been observed. For instance, in the summer of 2022. However, the severity has increased significantly since the 2010s. The soils have hardly recovered from the recurring dry periods since 2020.
Juice! | "Unfortunately, really extreme"— Limited Rain, but not Nearly Enough The good news is: After a relatively wet period from mid-2023 to the end of 2024, the moisture reserves in the deeper soil layers are well filled, meaning that forests have access to a water supply for an extended period.
So far, the consequences for agriculture are limited. Autumn-sown crops like rapeseed and winter cereals benefit from the moisture stored in the subsoil. It poses more of an issue for spring sowing, though, as the surface dries out. The roots of summer crops, sugar beets, and corn don't yet reach the deeper water reserves—they grow slowly and meagerly.
However, if the dry weather continues into next month, it could become a significant problem. But there's a glimmer of hope—the DWD reports that if rain falls significantly in the next two weeks, a different story might unfold. Nonetheless, the stakes are high, so stay bathed in sweat and on your toes for further developments!
Source: ntv.de
- Weather
- Drought
- Climate Change
- With the current record-breaking dry spell in Germany, it's crucial for local community policy to address water conservation measures and implement restrictions where necessary to ensure water availability for essential needs.
- In light of the increasing frequency and severity of droughts due to climate-change, employing environmental-science resources and sophisticated employment policies in meteorological and climatological sectors could foster timely and accurate weather predictions, providing a headstart for mitigation and adaptation strategies.
