A new analysis of long-term atmospheric data shows that global warming is increasing the likelihood of prolonged weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere (North Atlantic Ocean, Europe, and Siberia) during summer. Both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather have already increased in recent decades.
According to scientists, "about 70 percent of the land surface in Europe is already affected by weather conditions that linger in one place for an extended period." This also means it can rain longer than usual in a single location. This appears to already be the case in Germany, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Northern Italy.
In multiple locations across Germany and Denmark, heavy agricultural machinery is currently getting stuck in the muddy, deep soil, and many plants are damaged due to waterlogging. On potato fields, the issue is that much of the soil between the small ridges and furrows has washed away. Currently, many vegetables cannot be cultivated.
In Central European countries, agriculture is currently not only struggling with flooded fields and farmland but is also still grappling with the consequences of previous recent extreme weather events. There are fears for large parts of the strawberry harvest, and the grape harvest for wines may also end up disappointing.
Following years of summer drought, several EU countries are now experiencing the opposite: it has been raining almost continuously since last summer. The soil has been saturated for a long time. As a result, harvesting cannot be done on time and mechanical planting or sowing is also impossible.
In the Saarland region bordering France, hundreds of farms have suffered damage. Farmers in these areas are now dealing with flooded fields and destroyed crops. Particularly, the strawberry and grape harvests are under pressure, and the economic impact is significant. Vegetable and fruit growers are especially affected. The Saarland Chamber of Agriculture suspects that more than 300 of the approximately 1,100 farms will be impacted.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his sympathy during a working visit (“with rubber boots on”) to the affected areas last week and promised that the government will provide assistance.