Sun's Out, But So's the Moisture: Germany's Historic Drought Continues
Weather condition improving with increasing sunshine and drying up.
Catch some rays this weekend, but don't crack a grin - Germany's massive drought has returned with a vengeance. According to ntv weather expert Carlo Pfaff, the Saints of Ice haven't been so ice-cold towards us, but that warming trend comes at a price.
What's the scoop with the Ice Saints?
It turns out the Ice Saints were in a rush and graced us with their icy wrath before their time. However, by the weekend, that high-pressure influence will have kicked in, and the air is expected to warm up. The Ice Saints will make their official debut on Sunday, but they've left a chilly trail of frost and ground frost in their wake.
How hot will it get over the weekend?
Temperature-wise, we can expect a range of 17 to 23 degrees across Germany, with the Upper Rhine region, Rhineland, and Ruhr area reaching up to an intense 25 degrees. The Baltic sea will remain cool at a balmy 15 degrees.
Is there any sunshine coming our way?
Oh yes, buckle up for a sunny weekend. On Saturday, you'll find scattered clouds passing through the east, but it'll be a sunny dream south of the Danube. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a place that hasn't been graced by the sun this week, will finally catch a break on Sunday. Look forward to an average of 10 to 15 hours of sunshine from the North Sea to the Black Forest.
Weather report: A drought nightmare
The dryness problems aren't anything new. Since the beginning of meteorological spring on March 1st, Germany has only seen 58 liters of rain per square meter. This rate of precipitation has us worried about exceeding the dry spring records in 1893 and 2011, a daunting prospect that suggests it'll take a dramatic weather shift at the end of May to save us from this drought crisis.
Why Italy's seeing heavy rainfall
All this sunshine here in Germany and Southern Europe has been balanced by relentless rainfall in Italy. Why the discrepancy? High-pressure systems have been dominating our weather, while low-pressure systems have been pushing towards the Balkans. This has caused rain clouds to pile up in the southern Alps, while parts north of the Alps remain bone-dry. For example, Ascona in Switzerland's southern canton of Ticino received around 600 liters of rain per square meter since March 1st, whereas Munich is still standing at a meager 70 liters.
Keywords:- Weather- Climate Change- Water Crisis
Enrichment Data:- The drought's impacts extend beyond dry lawns and falling river levels; concerns about high forest fire risks, poor crop harvests, and environmental degradation have surfaced.- Water levels in the Rhine River near Cologne are only about half the average for the season.- The agricultural sector, particularly asparagus growing in Lower Saxony, is feeling the effects of the water shortage.- Forecasts suggest drier-than-average conditions will persist through June in Northern and Western Europe, exacerbating the ongoing drought crisis.
- The historic drought in Germany is a significant concern, with predictions of exceeding the dry spring records from 1893 and 2011 if there isn't a dramatic weather shift at the end of May, indicating a potential climate change impact on water supply.
- Meanwhile, southern Europe, particularly Italy, is experiencing relentless rainfall due to low-pressure systems pushing towards the Balkans, creating a stark contrast in weather patterns.
- The ongoing drought, characterized by extreme weather, not only poses risks of high forest fires, poor crop harvests, and environmental degradation but also raises concerns about the region's overall climate resilience.
