Flood warnings: Leine and Ihme at risk in Hanover!
Current information on rivers and flood warnings in Hanover on October 28th, 2025: water levels, danger levels and protective measures.

Flood warnings: Leine and Ihme at risk in Hanover!
The flood situation in Hanover remains an urgent concern. The region's two main rivers, the Leine and the Ihme, are the focus of attention. [haz.de]. On its way it passes, among other things, important cities such as Göttingen and Hanover. In contrast, the Ihme, which has its source in the Deister foreland, is shorter and also flows into the Leine, north of Hanover.
Both rivers are crucial for the region's flood statistics. Flood warnings in Lower Saxony are of great importance on this topic, and are usually issued by various institutions such as the federal, state or fire brigade. The water levels of the Leine in Hanover-Herrenhausen and Neustadt are also closely monitored. The reporting levels for floods are clearly defined:
Flood reporting levels
- Stufe 1: Bordvoller Abfluss, vereinzelt Überflutungen.
- Stufe 2: Überschwemmung land- und forstwirtschaftlicher Flächen.
- Stufe 3: Überflutungen von Grundstücken, Straßen und Kellern möglich.
- Stufe 4: Größere Überflutungen in bebauten Gebieten, Einsatz von Wasser- und Dammwehren erforderlich.
Significant water levels have already been reached. The highest recorded water level on the Leine in Hanover was 644 cm, recorded on February 10, 1946. Meanwhile, the average values such as “mean low water” (MNW) and “mean high water” (MHW) are crucial for assessing the situation.
Water levels and flood areas
Current measurements at the Herrenhausen gauge show that the current water level on the Leine watercourse is 180 cm. The catchment area of the water is an impressive 5304 km². Floodplains are also analyzed, taking into account various probabilities of flooding:
| flood plains | Height (cm) | NN (m) |
|---|---|---|
| High probability (HQfrequent) | 560cm | NN + 49.41 m |
| Medium probability (HQ100) | 708cm | NN + 50.89 m |
| Low probability (HQextreme) | 741cm | NN + 51.22 m |
Citizens in the area should pay particular attention to the warning channels. These range from radio and television to social media and digital billboards. In the Hanover district, alarms using loudspeaker trucks and sirens are also not uncommon.
Finally, flood protection in Germany is regulated by the Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Act (ZSKG) and clear recommendations are made for preparing for flood events. So it's important to be mindful in order to minimize the risks.