Overview

• Germany has experienced a historic spring drought, with February to April rainfall at less than 10% of normal levels in some areas.
• NOAA's Climate Forecast System has reversed its May 2025 forecast, now predicting significantly below-average rainfall for central and western Germany.
• An Omega high-pressure system has formed unusually early over Central Europe, blocking rain-bearing systems and stabilizing dry conditions.
• The German Weather Service (DWD) forecasts intermittent showers and thunderstorms through late April, with a low but notable risk of tornadoes in some regions.
• Experts caution that a dry May could amplify the likelihood of severe summer heatwaves, compounded by global climate drivers such as El Niño and record-warm oceans.