Overview
- Reports published on Aug. 11 show rivers, reservoirs and groundwater across large parts of Germany are at very low or historically low levels after months of below‑average rain.
- A short, intense heatpeak is building this week with the Deutscher Wetterdienst forecasting widespread highs above 30°C and local peaks around 38–39°C on Thursday and Friday.
- Several medium‑range runs, led by ECMWF ensembles, now signal a likely pattern shift to cooler, more unsettled weather from about Aug. 16–18 while other model variants, including GFS, still allow heat to return later in August.
- Meteorologists and hydrologists warn that isolated storms or single heavy downpours will not refill deep soils or major river basins because dry, crusted ground sheds water and large, multi‑day landrain totals are needed.
- Low water levels are already disrupting shipping, stressing ecosystems and raising wildfire and local supply risks, and authorities are preparing contingency measures such as tanker deliveries and navigation limits.