Germany is experiencing an unprecedented rainfall deficit in spring 2025: The extremely dry weather conditions during the approximately ten weeks leading up to Easter resulted in the lowest precipitation levels ever recorded nationwide for the period from early February to mid-April since comprehensive weather records began in 1931. According to recent analyses by the German Weather Service (DWD), average precipitation during this period amounted to just 40 liters per square meter – a decrease of approximately 68 percent compared to the long-term average of the 1991-2020 reference period.
The northwest of Germany was particularly affected, with some areas receiving less than a third of their usual rainfall. However, many regions in the southeast also remained significantly too dry. Current weather forecasts offer some hope: at least localized rainfall is now expected.
But Germany is not alone – large parts of Europe also suffered from extreme drought conditions in February and March, as can be seen in the map. A broad swath stretching from the British Isles across Central Europe to the Baltic States exhibited severe precipitation deficits. In some areas, less than 20 percent of typical monthly precipitation was recorded. In contrast, southern Europe was unusually wet – in southern Spain and Portugal, some regions received twice the normal amount of rainfall.
You can read the full press release from the DWD here.
(Image Source: DWD)