It hasn't rained enough for a few years.
The last few months have not been able to compensate for the deficits.
The lack of precipitation is already increasing the risk of forest fires and low water levels
Munich – With March, the meteorological beginning of spring has also moved into the country.
The weather in Germany is still modest when it comes to spring.
Some forecasts assume that winter will stay a while longer.
Others see no further onset of winter.
It becomes clearer with the amount of precipitation.
One thing is certain: It is too dry, and that already at the beginning of March.
Dry forecast for the summer: "It would need rain for the next six months"
Experts are not only warning of a drought summer in popular holiday regions in Italy.
With regard to precipitation, a tense situation is already emerging in Germany.
"Since 2018 we have been carrying around a big precipitation deficit with
us," said qualified meteorologist Dominik Jung
bild.de.
The expert explained that the deficit cannot be reduced.
It would need “a lot of rain” across the board.
For the dry phase to recover, it would need rain for the next six months.
“400 to 500 liters nicely evenly distributed over time and space.
That would be good," said Jung.
At the start of the "forest fire season", which runs from March to October, the DWD shared a forest fire map.
Already on March 1, the forest fire index in the west reached level three of five.
The DWD posted a map on Twitter.
🔥🌲At the start of the "forest fire season" (most forest fires occur between March and October), the DWD has the #forest fire risk index (👉https://t.co/JL5ntNGWxx), updated daily.
/tg pic.twitter.com/RK0VlbdVFq
— DWD (@DWD_presse) March 1, 2023
Increased risk of forest fires and low water levels - "catastrophic end" imminent
According to Jung, the winter was extremely dry, especially in the southwest.
On the other hand, there was more precipitation than usual in the north-east.
"The little precipitation in the southwest could be very problematic in spring and summer, because even then little precipitation is announced," explained the meteorologist.
"Without a winter buffer, there is a risk of dry periods and new forest fires," he added.
Other experts predict that the risk of forest fires in 2023 could be even higher than the year before.
The weather expert also worries about the water levels.
“The level of the Rhine near Worms is currently only 82 cm.
That's very little for spring.
The mean water would normally be over two meters," says Jung.
Although there was regular precipitation in February, the totals are not enough, as climatologist Dr.
Karsten Brandt from Donnerwetter.de
bild.de
told.
The announced precipitation for the next few days comes at the right time.
"Otherwise we would have a real problem in March and the skippers would no longer be able to fully load their ships," explained Brandt.
+
The Plane River was no longer able to supply the fish ponds with water in the summer of 2022.
© Cevin Dettlaff/dpa
But a look at the coming months promises no improvement.
Great warmth is expected again in summer, and the water levels are threatening to drop sharply.
“The starting conditions are very bad with the low humidity and it could end catastrophically.
It's scary, our continent has been drying out since 2018," summarized the climatologist.
(vk)
List of rubrics: © Cevin Dettlaff/dpa
