Dhe place where Saxony’s rivers are constantly monitored is in an inconspicuous building in the north of Dresden. This is where the state flood control center is based. Right at the entrance, a large screen provides information about “current water levels” and a quick glance reveals that there is no danger at the moment. About 80 percent of the gauges are in the low water area, another 16 percent are close to it. Saxony is currently experiencing an extremely dry period, and it hasn’t rained significantly in months. In Saxon Switzerland, the forest is still burning.
Exactly twenty years ago, the situation was different. Due to a special weather situation, it started raining non-stop for 24 hours on August 12 in the Ore Mountains. During this period, 312 liters of rain per square meter fell at the Zinnwald-Georgenfeld station on the Erzgebirge crest. This is still the highest daily precipitation ever measured in Germany. The consequences were catastrophic. Mountain rivers that are otherwise leisurely swelled within a very short time to torrents that swept away even things that were nailed down. Trees, cars, bridges, even whole houses race down the valley towards the Elbe. There, the Schöna level on the Czech border registered a high of 12.04 meters on August 16. The flood wave reached Dresden the next day. Here the level stopped at 9.40 meters, also a maximum value. 1.50 meters are common at this time of year.
