Sachsen-Anhalt faces severe drought and record low Elbe water levels

Sachsen-Anhalt is experiencing significant drought and extreme heat. According to the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, approximately 75 percent of the state's area is facing moderate to severe drought, with extreme drought conditions concentrated in the eastern and southeastern regions, particularly near the Altmark and the border with Brandenburg.

The region has seen no rainfall for seven days, with temperatures reaching as high as 34.4 degrees Celsius. This lack of precipitation and high evaporation rates are placing stress on groundwater and agriculture.

Concurrently, the Elbe river is reaching historic low water levels. At the Magdeburg-Strombrücke gauge, levels have reportedly dropped to between 36 and 37 centimeters. Experts note that these gauge readings represent the height above a fixed zero point rather than actual water depth; for instance, a reading of 0.38 meters can correspond to an actual depth of approximately 1.43 meters due to the riverbed profile.