Wet christmas

[Skybird]

The flood situation in my region has eased in the last few days, but in Lower Saxony, which lies further downstream on the rivers, there is a state of emergency, dykes have broken in several places, and in many more places they are threatening to break, they are completely soaked. The media describe the state as "completely flooded".



Now, however, continuous rain has started again and the river levels are rising again in my region. Nothing is seeping away any more, the ground is so full, it couldn't be fuller. Satellite settlements in the south-east of Münster are back on high alert and the water is rising again, after falling slightly in the last few days, by around a third (still well above normal).


Some say the worst is yet to come.

[Ostfriese]

Originally Posted by Skybird

The flood situation in my region has eased in the last few days, but in Lower Saxony, which lies further downstream on the rivers, there is a state of emergency, dykes have broken in several places, and in many more places they are threatening to break, they are completely soaked. The media describe the state as "completely flooded".

That's media exaggeration for you. I live in Lower Saxony, at least two of the regions mentioned by the media quite often are quite close to me (Heidekreis and Celle).

Yes, there are floods, and dykes are soaked (which is nothing unusual - that's one part of their "job"), and some people still have water in their basements, but it's far away from "completely flooded". I was perfectly able to drive through the entire county of Celle today.

[Skybird]

I know Meppen and Lingen, and there it was/is anything but harmless. Media exaggeration it may be when they write the "whole state is under water". But there are big zones where the situation is very critical. Some dikes have broken for sure. And what we had up rivers here in Northrhine Westphalia, soon get down to them - and it was more water in this region around Münster than during the heavy rain flooding 2014 - and that one was spectacular. When a week ago I did a little bike tour aorund the town in the East, the water blocked me off my planned courses earlier than nine year ago. Which surprised me.



Two or three dikes also have been intentionally broken up beyond preset plans, to flood fields and acres to save towns and villages elsewhere.



I wonder what such floods mean for agrucluterla famrland? I mean its not all clear so-called "green" water, but "grey" water consisting of sewage water and industrial waste water as well, also the fertile sediment layers get washed away, but to what degrees?