Extreme dryness across Europe and Mediterranean coastlines intensifies in July, impacting over half the region.
In July 2022, Europe and the Mediterranean experienced some of the most severe drought conditions in recent history, with Eastern Europe and the Balkans particularly affected. This article explores the drought situation, its historical context, and its impact on various countries.
Historical Context
Historically, Europe and the Mediterranean have been prone to droughts, but the severity and frequency have increased due to climate change. These regions typically experience hot and dry summers, but recent years have seen more extreme conditions.
July 2022 Drought
In July 2022, Europe faced significant drought conditions, especially in western and central Europe, due to anomalous anticyclonic conditions. This led to soil moisture deficits and vegetation stress, affecting countries like France, Romania, and parts of Germany.
The drought had severe impacts, including reduced river discharge and depleting water stores. It affected energy generation and agriculture, with farmers facing competition for dwindling resources.
Comparison to Historical Averages
The drought in July 2022 was part of a broader trend of increasing drought severity across Europe. While specific historical averages are not provided, the European Drought Observatory noted that regions already affected by drought were experiencing similar or worse conditions.
The heatwaves in May and June 2022 contributed to the drought, consistent with patterns where hot temperatures exacerbate dry conditions.
Monthly Records
In more recent years, such as in July 2025, Europe experienced the third-hottest July on record, with more than half of the continent facing unprecedented drought conditions since monitoring began in 2021.
Impact Across Countries
- France: France has experienced one of the largest fires in its history, with 13,000 hectares of vegetation burned in the Aude department. These fires, including in open-air dumps, release smoke and toxic gases. In July, more than two-thirds of soils were affected by drought (68%), a significant increase from June (44%).
- Kosovo: In Kosovo, the proportion of soils in alert status rose from 6% to 43%.
- Turkey: Turkey is affected by persistent drought, with more than 60% of the country affected each month since March. Fires in western Turkey led to the evacuation of three villages and the closure of maritime traffic in the Dardanelles Strait on August 8.
- Bosnia-Herzegovina: In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the proportion of soils in alert status increased from 1% to 23%.
- Hungary: In Hungary, the proportion of soils in alert status jumped from 9% in June to 56% in July.
Other Regions
- Spain and Portugal: Despite the drought, Spain and Portugal have low drought rates, with 7% and 5% respectively.
- United Kingdom: More than two-thirds of the United Kingdom still remain in water deficit.
Monitoring Drought
The drought indicator of the Copernicus European Programme's observatory combines precipitation, soil moisture, and vegetation status. Drought in the region has broken monthly records each month this year.
As Europe and the Mediterranean continue to grapple with the impacts of climate change, it is crucial to monitor and understand the evolving drought conditions to implement effective mitigation strategies.
- The severity and frequency of droughts in Europe and the Mediterranean have increased over time due to climate change, with these regions traditionally prone to such weather conditions but now experiencing more extreme ones.
- In the context of environmental science, the droughts in Europe and the Mediterranean can be linked to climate change, as indicated by the increasing drought severity and the historical records of droughts being broken this year.
