Drought persists across central German states

Central and eastern German states, including Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, are facing persistent drought conditions. Data from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research indicates that moderate to severe drought affects approximately 55% to 70% of the land area in these regions, particularly in the southern and central parts of each state.

In Saxony-Anhalt, the CDU parliamentary group has proposed constructing weirs on the Elbe and Saale rivers to retain water and stabilize groundwater levels to protect agriculture, industry, and drinking water supplies. However, environmental groups have raised concerns regarding potential ecological damage.

Recent precipitation levels have remained significantly below seasonal averages, with weekly totals ranging from 5mm to 10.1mm across the affected states. While surface soil may show temporary recovery after light rain, deep soil moisture levels (up to 1.80 meters) remain critically low due to high evaporation rates and insufficient rainfall, posing risks to winter crops and groundwater replenishment.