Elbe carries less water than normal

The drought in recent weeks has caused the water level in the Elbe to drop. On Wednesday, 109 centimetres were measured at the Dresden gauge, according to an overview from the state flood control center. The normal average water level is 149 centimetres.

However, a spokesperson for the State Environment Agency said in response to an inquiry that there was currently no question of low water. Low water is not calculated on the basis of water levels, but with the flow rate. In Dresden, the Elbe is at low water when the flow rate is less than 109 cubic meters per second. Currently, it is 157 cubic meters per second.

Little precipitation over the next few days

Hydrologists expect little change over the next few days. Water levels of between 109 and 113 centimetres are predicted in Dresden. The amount of water flowing through the city will also remain at roughly the same level. According to the German Weather Service, there is hardly any rain in sight until the weekend. Some light precipitation could then fall at the beginning of next week.

Is this climate change?

Dry spells are not only becoming more frequent in Germany in the summer as a result of climate change, but also as spring droughts. "As a result of climate change, with rising temperatures and thus increasing evaporation, there is a trend towards increasing spring drought," DWD expert Andreas Brömser told the news agency dpa.

According to the EU Climate Change Service, March was also the warmest March ever measured in Europe - and also significantly drier than usual in Germany.