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DW
6 days ago
- Climate
- DW
Germany updates: Severe storms hit several states – DW – 06/01/2025
06/01/2025 June 1, 2025 Storms caused damage in parts of Germany overnight Hail as big as ping pong balls hit many parts of Germany over the weekend Image: Bernd März/imago images Strong thunderstorms, heavy rain and hail, and gusty winds caused chaos in parts of Germany over the weekend. In the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, in particular, the storms have flooded basements and streets and uprooted trees. Within a few hours, there were hundreds of emergency calls. However, no injuries were reported. Some outdoor events had to be canceled at short notice, including an open-air concert on Münsterplatz in Ulm in the southern state of Baden-Württemberg and the 3RIDES Gran Fondo race in Aachen. Today, the weather is expected to be warm, but occasionally unpleasant. The south, central, and eastern parts of the country are mainly affected, according to the German Weather Service (DWD).
Local Germany
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Local Germany
Do I need to prepare for water shortages in Germany this summer?
While parts of southern Europe, like Spain , have seen entirely too much rain in recent weeks, Germany has been having one of the driest springs on record. The lack of rain has meant a number of warm and sunny weekends early on this year – downright enjoyable weather for picnic goers and early spring hikers and campers. But it also means that Germany's arable land is parched, its rivers are running low and wildfire risk is already rising. If the drought continues to intensify through the summer, some regions could see water resources run low by the end of the summer and the economic impacts would be significant. How dry is it? From the beginning of February to mid-April, Germany had not seen so little rainfall since 1931, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). If May remains mostly rain-free, it could be the driest spring since weather records began in 1881. DWD notes the driest spring to date was in 1893 when only 85.3 millimetres of precipitation fell. That's followed by the spring of 2011 with 89.5 millimetres. In March and April of this year, 47.3 millimetres have fallen throughout Germany, and in May so far about 13 millimetres were added, according to DWD data. Without further precipitation, the total would add up to about 60 millimetres – a strikingly scarce amount of water. Experts aren't calling it a record breaking drought just yet – some weather models are calling for increased precipitation toward the end of this month, and the verdict is out on whether this summer will bring further drought or maybe more intense rain. Advertisement But no matter how you look at it, this year has been remarkably dry so far. It can be seen as yet another example of how human-caused climate change is intensifying weather extremes in Germany and around the world. For many weeks, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig has been showing widespread drought in the topsoil up to a depth of 25 centimetres, especially in the north and east of Germany. "It is not unusual for the drought monitor to go deep into the red for a short time,' said Andreas Marx, head of the German drought monitor at UFZ, 'But it is unusual for it to have been red for so long now." Maps compiled by UFZ Drought Monitor based on data from the German Weather Service. Where is affected? As is seen in recent maps composed by the UFZ, virtually all of Germany is experiencing a rainfall deficit. But in parts of North Rhine Westphalia, Northern Hesse, Thuringia and Leipzig this was eased somewhat by recent rains. Advertisement In a recent interview with Focus Magazine , hydrologist Dr. Dietrich Borchardt, notes that currently regions in the Harz mountains, southern Hesse, Franconia and parts of Brandenburg are seeing exceptionally dry soils. The lack of rain is also affecting Germany's lakes and rivers. Lake Constance, typically known to be a beautiful summer vacation spot, is currently extremely low, for example. The Rhine River has also seen remarkably low levels this spring. The Rhine serves as an important shipping lane for Germany and central Europe, and by mid-April cargo ships were only able to be loaded to half-capacity due to low water levels south of Duisburg and Cologne. Following some rainfall in April, Reuters reported that ships were able to up their carrying capacities again. But more sustained rainfall is needed to keep water levels up. READ ALSO: 8 places in North Rhine-Westphalia to escape the heat this summer According to Borchardt, scarcity in drinking water resources is not likely in most of the country, but there could be restrictions in some municipalities due to insufficient storage or pumping capacities. Borchardt named Erkner, near Berlin, as one example of a place where there is an actual shortage of water resources. Is there anything I should do to prepare? A significant amount of Germany's water resources are used for 'drinking water'. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), around 4.67 billion cubic metres of drinking water was used in 2022 – that's compared to 6.59 billion cubic metres that was used in the energy sector or just over three billion cubic metres that was used for chemical manufacturing. Of the drinking water that was used, around 80 percent of it went to private households and small businesses, whereas around 20 percent went to large commercial buyers. So taking action to reduce your own water use can be a meaningful contribution to reducing water demand. A view of the Rhine in Oberkassel with the old town in the background. The water level here is at an historic low. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Rolf Vennenbernd When it comes to household water use, gardeners and pool owners use a lot. Finding ways to irrigate your garden more efficiently – for example with drip irrigation – can make a big difference. You may also consider how you plant and manage your garden. Whereas many gardeners sew sparse vegetable beds with lots of barren soil in between, it makes more sense to promote ground cover by planting more densely and use mulch or even allow weeds to fill in between. You can also use hedges or trees for shade to prevent the sun from drawing too much water from the soil. READ ALSO: From swamp to sponge - Berlin harnesses rain to adapt to climate shift Advertisement Also, Germany's Environmental Agency ( Umwelt Bundesamt ) recommends watering in the mornings or evenings instead of at midday. Taking shorter showers instead of baths and investing in water saving appliances at home can also help reduce your use.
Local Germany
17-04-2025
- Climate
- Local Germany
Germany sees 'worrying' record dry spell in early 2025
From February 1st to April 13th, Germany saw 40 litres of rainfall per square metre -- its lowest level since records began in 1931, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). "The current drought is worrying," Environment Minister Steffi Lemke said in a statement sent to AFP, warning that "it is much too dry in many parts of Germany this year". The record low for February 1st to April 13th is around 68 percent or 88 litres less than the average rainfall for the same period between 1991 and 2020, the DWD said. The record for the period had previously dated back to 1976, when rainfall was 55 litres per square metre. Northwest Germany saw around 35 percent less rain than usual, while some southeastern regions saw between 50 and 80 percent less, according to the DWD. READ ALSO: What the weather forecast predicts over Easter weekend in Germany Many parts of northern Europe have seen unusually low rainfall this year, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and countries around the Baltic Sea. This contrasts with southern Europe, including Spain and Portugal, where rainfall has been up to twice the usual amount. Advertisement "Agriculture and forestry, but also all of us, are clearly feeling the consequences of the climate crisis," Lemke said. "The risk of forest fires is high, and if it stays this dry, harvests are expected to suffer." The low water level of the Rhine is "affecting the environment and the economy", she added. In southern Germany, images taken by AFP showed large swathes of sand accessible to walkers on the shores of Lake Constance. The drought is "causing some concern for many asparagus growers", the regional farmers' association in the northern region of Lower Saxony told AFP. "Significant rainfall" expected next week in Germany should alleviate the drought "at least in some areas", the DWD said.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Natural Hazards Portal launched in Germany
Germans seeking information and advice about extreme weather events or any other natural disasters can turn to a new centralized website. The Natural Hazards Portal (NGP) will help citizens answer the urgent question: Is my house or the place where I am located at risk? said Digital Minister Volker Wissing on Friday. "This makes life in Germany safer," Wissing said at the launch of the portal in the city of Offenbach. The website brings together current warnings, scientific analyses and forecasts in a clearly understandable way, said Sarah Jones, who heads the German Weather Service. The portal contains information in German and English for preparing for imminent dangers such as flooding or extreme cold, and tips in the event that citizens find themselves affected by extreme weather. Germany already has a nationwide system of warnings sent to mobile phones in the event of an imminent emergency. The NGP was developed by the weather service together with Germany's 16 federal states and the Office of Civil Protection. The site currently focusses on hydrological hazards such as flooding and storm surges. However, the portal is set to gradually be expanded to include other natural hazards such as ozone pollution, forest fires, drought, avalanches and earthquakes.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
German temperature record broken again in 2024
The average temperature in Germany hit 10.9 degrees Celsius last year, marking the warmest year since records began in 1881, the German Weather Service (DWD) reported on Tuesday. The temperature broke the previous record of 10.6 degrees set just a year previously. A very mild winter and a mild spring contributed to the records in both years. Each month of last year was unusually warm, by comparison with the 1961-2020 period. The year also saw above average precipitation of around 902 millimetres, with only 11 years wetter since 1881. Wet years in 2023 and 2024 had contributed to raising the water table after a series of dry years, the DWD said. The first day with a temperature above 25 degrees was on April 5, and a day later 30 degrees was registered in one location. It had never been that hot so early in the year.
