Germany faces severe drought in south and east, threatening farms, forests and waterways

Germany’s soils in the southern and eastern regions are experiencing a prolonged drought, driven mainly by a lack of rainfall over the past eight months rather than the recent heatwave. Andreas Marx, who runs the Dürremonitor at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, explained that the drought has created a “flash drought” in the upper 25‑40 cm of soil, quickly depleting moisture as temperatures rise.

Groundwater levels remain low after scarce rain since autumn 2025, and the Dürremonitor’s moisture maps show the southern part of the country in deep red, indicating an “extraordinary drought”. The situation poses several risks: forests are vulnerable to bark‑beetle infestations; river water levels are dropping, raising the likelihood of low‑water conditions that could impede navigation, illustrated by the temporary suspension of an Elbe ferry service; and agriculture faces reduced yields for crops such as maize and sugar beet, with expected harvest losses unless an unusually wet summer occurs.

Marx warned that restoring soil moisture would require an exceptionally wet summer, which appears unlikely. The combined environmental and economic pressures underscore the seriousness of the drought for the region.