European regions grappling with extensive water scarcity spark anxious worries.
Dry Spells and Drought: Europe Struggles Amidst Scorching Weather
Europe's facing a tough battle against dwindling river flows and worsening drought conditions. The hotter-than-usual weather and less rainfall since the beginning of the year, as reported in the JRC's April 2025 "Drought in Europe" report, paint a grim picture.
With forecasts up to June predicting drier-than-average conditions in northern and western Europe, there's growing concern about the impact on agriculture, river transport, and ecosystems.
Eastern, central, and south-eastern Europe, as well as the eastern Mediterranean region, are experiencing increasingly severe drought conditions. Similar trends are emerging in north-western Europe. Petrifyingly, large parts of the Mediterranean and Middle East remain under drought warnings.
To put things in perspective, much of Portugal, Spain, western France, and western Turkey had a wetter winter, with northern Italy enjoying a wet spring. However, heavy rainfall events in some areas led to fatalities, damaged infrastructures, and affected vegetation.
What's happening below the surface? The JRC's scientists confirm that scorching heat and scarce rainfall have depleted Europe's soil and water reserves since January. The Alps, eastern Europe, and northern Scandinavia, for instance, have seen temperatures over 3°C above normal.
In the eastern Mediterranean and northern Africa, it's a lifeless wasteland. The lack of moisture has left these regions bereft and desolate.
Drought effects on European rivers have become more evident by early April. Northern Europe, parts of western Alps, the eastern Mediterranean, and western Russia are experiencing hydrological stress. The Rhine River, in particular, has witnessed significant changes, with alarming drops in water levels, impacting river navigation in the Middle Rhine.
Looking ahead, dry spells seem unavoidable. Northern Germany, the Benelux countries, Denmark, southern Scandinavia, and much of the UK and Ireland recorded very dry conditions in March. This, combined with dry conditions in the preceding months, raises concerns about how the situation may evolve in the upcoming spring and summer.
While much of Europe seemed lush by the end of March, stress signs are already evident in parts of northern Africa, western Syria, and south-eastern Turkey. These areas may face worsening conditions if drought persists through the growing season.
As we move forward, forecasters predict drier-than-average conditions in northern and western Europe through June. Meanwhile, wetter conditions may graced the Iberian Peninsula, central Italy, the eastern Alps, and Greece. However, uncertainty looms as different modelling systems are used.
Water levels are forecast to remain low across eastern Europe during May, with the potential for further drops. Low river flow is already affecting farming, ecosystems, energy production, and transport in many areas.
The April 2025 JRC report paints a worrying picture, emphasizing that the combination of climate change and a lack of preparedness is pushing Europe into a tightly enveloping crisis. Drought impacts are spreading from rural to urban areas and affecting both public and economic sectors.
Long story short, Europe's in a critical phase of environmental stress. With summer approaching, things could get worse, impacting areas beyond agriculture, including water supplies and tourism.
- The scorching weather and less rainfall since the beginning of the year have raised concerns about the impact on data related to health, agriculture, and weather-forecasting, as reported in the JRC's April 2025 "Drought in Europe" report.
- The dry spells and drought conditions in Europe are affecting not only agriculture but also river transport, specifically impacting navigation in the Rhine River, according to the JRC's scientists.
- Climate change and a lack of preparedness are contributing to the worsening drought conditions in eastern, central, south-eastern Europe, the eastern Mediterranean region, and large parts of the Mediterranean and Middle East, as mentioned in the report.
- In addition to agricultural impacts, the lack of moisture is also having severe consequences on environmental science, particularly the ecosystems and biodiversity of regions like the eastern Mediterranean and northern Africa.
- The JRC's scientists warn that the ongoing drought could have far-reaching effects, potentially impacting urban water supplies and tourism industries, as Europe moves into the summer season.
