Latest news with #SteffiLemke
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
08-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Europe sees warmest March on record, second-warmest globally
Europe saw its warmest March since records began, with average temperatures climbing just above 6 degrees Celsius — 2.41 degrees higher than the 1991–2020 average, according to EU climate agency Copernicus. Globally, it was the second-warmest March ever recorded. The findings underscore growing concerns that the international goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is slipping out of reach. While 2024 has already breached the threshold, the target is only considered officially missed if it is exceeded over multiple years. Copernicus also reported the lowest Arctic sea ice extent ever observed in a March. Much of Central Europe, including Germany, experienced unusually dry conditions. Stress on ecosystems is already visible, with plants and animals increasingly affected by the lack of moisture. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts said it was a month of "contrasting rainfall extremes" across Europe with many areas experiencing their driest March on record and others their wettest March on record for at least the past 47 years. Germany's Environment Minister Steffi Lemke called the current drought alarming, warning that large parts of the country are facing an unusual spring dryness. She said the climate crisis is already impacting agriculture and forestry, elevating wildfire risks and raising the likelihood of reduced harvests.
