Overview

• Germany is experiencing one of its driest periods in recent history, with March 2025 ranking as the second driest March on record in regions like NRW.
• Recent rainfall, though welcomed, has been insufficient to offset the significant precipitation deficit accumulated since January, according to meteorologists.
• Low water levels in critical waterways such as the Rhine and Bodensee are disrupting inland shipping and increasing transportation costs for goods like grain and fertilizer.
• Climate experts attribute the prolonged drought to altered jetstream behavior and rising temperatures, which are intensifying and extending dry periods in Central Europe.
• Officials, including the RWW water utility, assure that drinking water supplies remain stable and capable of meeting demand, even in prolonged dry conditions.