Germany’s setting minister on Wednesday warned of a excessive threat of forest fires and poor harvests after a “worrying” lack of rain in latest weeks.
From February 1 to April 13, Germany noticed 40 litres of rainfall per sq. metre — its lowest stage since information started in 1931, in accordance with the German Climate Service (DWD).
“The present drought is worrying,” Surroundings Minister Steffi Lemke mentioned in an announcement despatched to AFP, warning that “it’s a lot too dry in lots of elements of Germany this 12 months”.
The document low for February 1 to April 13 is round 68 p.c or 88 litres lower than the typical rainfall for a similar interval between 1991 and 2020, the DWD mentioned.
The document for the interval had beforehand dated again to 1976, when rainfall was 55 litres per sq. metre.
Northwest Germany noticed round 35 p.c much less rain than typical, whereas some southeastern areas noticed between 50 and 80 p.c much less, in accordance with the DWD.
Many elements of northern Europe have seen unusually low rainfall this 12 months, together with Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and nations across the Baltic Sea.
This contrasts with southern Europe, together with Spain and Portugal, the place rainfall has been as much as twice the standard quantity.
“Agriculture and forestry, but additionally all of us, are clearly feeling the implications of the local weather disaster,” Lemke mentioned.
“The chance of forest fires is excessive, and if it stays this dry, harvests are anticipated to endure.”
The low water stage of the Rhine is “affecting the setting and the financial system”, she added.
In southern Germany, photos taken by AFP confirmed massive swathes of sand accessible to walkers on the shores of Lake Constance.
The drought is “inflicting some concern for a lot of asparagus growers”, the regional farmers’ affiliation within the northern area of Decrease Saxony instructed AFP.
“Important rainfall” anticipated subsequent week in Germany ought to alleviate the drought “not less than in some areas”, the DWD mentioned.
pyv-fec/tw
