Forestry offices in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate warned on 31 October 2026 of an increased risk from falling branches and unstable trees. The cause is prolonged drought and summer heat, which have weakened many stands. Local authorities and state forestry services have announced that they will step up inspections on well-used paths and mark or close hazardous areas.
The German Meteorological Service and the Federal Environment Agency assess spring and summer 2026 as exceptionally dry. In many regions, soil moisture was at times significantly below the long-term average. Experts point out that water shortages weaken trees physiologically and reduce their defences against pests. In particular, bark beetles can spread more easily in already damaged stands. As a result, the proportion of deadwood and the number of branches in tree crowns at risk of breaking increase, raising the risk to forest visitors increased — even without a storm.
According to forestry offices, the immediate danger is concentrated in areas along paths, car parks and picnic areas, as well as in mature stands that have already suffered drought stress in previous years. Measures to ensure public safety include inspecting trees along paths, removing trees that pose an immediate danger and cordoning off individual sections. Depending on who owns the land, responsibility lies with local authorities, state forestry services or private woodland owners. In principle, people enter forests at their own risk, but where immediate risks are apparent, safety measures must be taken.
In the short term, forestry businesses expect risks to persist, as damaged branches can break even in moderate winds. In the medium term, foresters expect stands in the worst-affected areas to change: species that are less able to tolerate drought may decline, while more drought-resistant tree species may become more important. This development also affects forest stability during future storms.
Forestry offices advise visitors to behave with care: avoid the forest during strong winds or thunderstorms, do not spend extended periods resting beneath large, spreading trees, respect closed-off areas and report any damage they notice. Minor diversions or temporary closures are intended to prevent danger and are likely to become more frequent in the coming weeks.
The authorities stress that preventive woodland management and forest development adapted to local conditions and the climate can reduce the risk of breakage in the long term. This includes maintaining stable mixed stands, removing severely damaged trees in good time, and continuously monitoring pest pressure and soil moisture. At the same time, they point out that, despite precautions, some residual risk remains in natural woodland and cannot be entirely ruled out.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).