Facing an unprecedented drought in sun-parched Germany
Weather conditions are improving, with more sunlight and increasing dryness.
Get ready for some sweltering heat this weekend, but there's a catch - the country's in the throes of a record-breaking, bone-dry spell. Here's the lowdown, straight from the horse's mouth, as they say.
ntv.de: Ice Saints make an early arrival, leaving sun and warmth in their wake?
Indeed, the Ice Saints barged in a tad prematurely this year, causing a chilly air incursion at the start of the week that resulted in frost or ground frost in some regions at night. However, by the weekend, the mercury's about to soar up to 25 degrees in some areas. That's the word from ntv's resident meteorologist, Carlo Pfaff.
Temperature outlook
On Saturday, temperatures will rise to 17 to 23 degrees, with 25 degrees predicted for the Upper Rhine, Rhineland, and Ruhr region. The coolest spot will be along the Baltic Sea, with temperatures hovering at 15 degrees. But don't worry, sun-lovers, there'll be no dearth of vitamin D this weekend. Expect plenty of sunshine throughout the country, ranging from 10 hours in the Ore Mountains to a sunshine-soaked 15 hours in the North Sea to Black Forest region!
Weather forecast
Additionally, from Saturday, only a few clouds will dot the eastern skies, making way for a sunnier day south of the Danube. If you've felt like Garmisch-Partenkirchen's been stricken by endless grey skies this week, take heart, as Sunday promises to be sunny all across the country.
The extremity of this drought
However, this sun-drenched spell has its downside. The drought has been a persisting theme for the past few weeks, and things are only getting drier. In fact, the country has only managed to collect a paltry 58 liters of rain per square meter on average since March 1, the official start of meteorological spring.
Historical drought
Experts predict that the spring of 2025 could prove to be the driest since recorded weather history began. The next 10 days don't foresee any significant rainfall, which means the last days of May would need to bring over 25 liters per square meter on average in the country to catch up on the rain deficit. That's a tall order, seeing how the driest spring on record was in 1893 with 81 liters per square meter, and the second driest in 2011 was a relatively more generous 89 liters.
Regional contrasts
Meanwhile, regions further south, such as Italy, have been inundated with extreme rainfall amounts, while areas north of the Alps, including Germany, have remained dry. For instance, Ascona in southern Switzerland's canton of Ticino received over 600 liters of rain per square meter since March 1, compared to Munich's paltry 70 liters in the same period.
Source: ntv.de
- Weather
- Extreme weather
- Drought
- Water supply
Enrichment Data:
This exceptionally low rainfall is setting records, with the period from February to mid-April 2025 being the driest since weather records began in 1931, according to Germany's meteorological service (DWD), with precipitation levels approximately 68% below the 1991–2020 average[2]. March 2025 was recorded as the driest March on record in Germany, further exacerbating the drought conditions this spring[4]. These exceptionally low rainfall levels have resulted in worrying drought conditions, raising concerns about forest fire risks and poor harvests[1][4]. The drought is widespread, with about half of Germany experiencing drought warning conditions as part of a larger regional pattern affecting central and northern Europe[5]. This spring's dryness is linked to a negative precipitation anomaly combined with clear skies and dry winds, intensifying soil dryness and stressing vegetation[5].
- The current drought in Germany, described as unprecedented, is causing concern over forest fires and poor harvests due to the exceptionally low rainfall recorded since March 2025, making it the driest period since weather records began in 1931, according to DWD (Germany's meteorological service).
- The ongoing drought has resulted in a significant rain deficit, with the next 10 days not forecasting any substantial rainfall, which means the last days of May would need to bring over 25 liters per square meter on average to catch up.
- Interestingly, while regions in Germany are experiencing this severe drought, southern areas like Italy have been inundated with extreme rainfall amounts, creating a stark contrast. For instance, Ascona in southern Switzerland received over 600 liters of rain per square meter since March 1, compared to Munich's paltry 70 liters in the same period.
- The weather forecast for the upcoming weekend predicts warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine across the country, with temperatures rising up to 25 degrees in some areas, as reported by ntv's resident meteorologist, Carlo Pfaff.
- This extreme weather situation, characterized by drought, is having an impact on the water supply, raising concerns about its availability and sustainability in the future, particularly given the projected dry conditions for the spring of 2025.
