Volatile Climate Conditions Cause Increased Irregularity in the Water Cycle
In a stark warning, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released its annual report, highlighting the intensifying global water crisis due to climate change. The report reveals that 2024 saw a 'clear imbalance' in the world's river basins for the sixth consecutive year, with two-thirds having too much or too little water.
The African tropics experienced unusually heavy rainfall in 2024, resulting in the deaths of around 2,500 people and the displacement of four million. Europe, on the other hand, was hit by the worst floods in over a decade. A third of all river flows exceeded flood levels, with Portugal being 70 percent affected by drought and France 66 percent.
The report also notes that tropical storms and record rainfall in Asia and the Pacific resulted in over a thousand deaths in 2024. In contrast, parts of Scandinavia and North Asia experienced less severe losses in important water reserves compared to other regions.
The WMO's water expert, Stefan Uhlenbrook, commented on these issues in 2025, stating that the temperatures of almost all of the world's 75 large lakes surveyed in July 2024 were above or well above normal, significantly impacting water quality. The report also states that only one-third of the world's river basins had 'normal' conditions last year.
The report further indicates that the global sea level rose by 1.2 millimeters in a single year due to glacier melt. This rise, while seemingly small, is a concerning trend that points towards a rapidly changing climate.
The analysis of data from the EU's Copernicus Earth observation program reveals that in August 2025, soils in Europe and the Mediterranean region were drier than ever recorded since 2012. In August 2024, Europe's soils were also found to be drier than ever before. 53 percent of the region's soils were affected by drought in August 2025, a record high that is 23 percentage points above the average for the years 2012 to 2024.
The report warns of dramatic mass loss in all global glacier regions for the third year in a row, with a total of 450 gigatonnes of ice lost worldwide. This loss is not only affecting the water cycle but also poses a significant risk to communities living in the affected areas.
The WMO calls for more monitoring and strengthened data exchange to improve understanding and assessment of water resources and water extremes. The organization also emphasizes the importance of managing risks associated with drought, floods, and the loss of the cryosphere, which includes the ice of the poles and glaciers, as well as permafrost soils.
In Turkey, 84 percent of the soils were affected by drought, leading to numerous forest fires. Eastern Europe and the Balkans were particularly hard hit by drought in August, with drought conditions fueling wildfires that resulted in two deaths and thousands of residents evacuating their homes. In the eastern Mediterranean, Armenia, Georgia, and Lebanon were particularly hard hit, with more than 95 percent of their soils affected by drought.
The WMO's chief, Celeste Saulo, stated that global water reserves are coming under increasing pressure. The organization urges governments and international bodies to take urgent action to address this crisis and to ensure a sustainable water future for all.
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