Wupperverband reports record-breaking dry July

The Wupperverband has reported that July 2026 was the driest July since records began at several monitoring stations in the Wuppertal and Bergisches Land regions.

At the Bever reservoir in Hückeswagen, only 12 liters of rain per square meter were recorded, significantly below the average of 79 liters. Other stations reported similarly low levels: 24 liters at Lindscheid, 10 liters at the Buchenhofen sewage treatment plant, and 19 liters at Solingen Burg. In Leverkusen, rainfall reached a low of only 7 liters compared to an average of 78 liters.

In addition to record-low precipitation, the region experienced high levels of sunshine. The German Weather Service (DWD) recorded 262 sunshine hours in North Rhine-Westphalia, well above the average of 187 hours. This increased sunshine has led to higher evaporation rates, further intensifying the drought conditions. Due to the ongoing dryness, the Wupperverband recently reduced water releases from industrial water reservoirs into the Wupper river.