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2026 European drought

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2026 European drought.

In 2026, Europe experienced drought-like conditions amid heatwaves. Climate change is a key factor in the creation of the drought, making it 80 times more likely in western Europe and 40 times in eastern Europe. Many countries have restricted water use, wildfires spread across Europe and agriculture was hit hard. The drought reduced the flow of water in the rivers, cutting the generation of hydropower and reducing the movement of ships, which can increase food and energy prices. "Dr Mariam Zachariah, at Imperial College London and also part of the study team, said: “What’s most alarming is that these conditions are occurring at 1.4C of warming. If global emissions push temperatures up to 2.8C as predicted, these intense evaporative conditions could double in likelihood. Without rapid, aggressive emissions cuts, Europe is heading for a future where these scorching, dry summers happen time and time again.”[1]

Austria

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Extremely low water at Lake Attersee

By late July, large parts of Austria were affected by drought as the country experienced one of the worst lacks of precipitation in decades, with the amount of precipitation since December 2025 being reported as approximately 30 percent lower than the levels needed to prevent drought.[2][3]

On 11 August, it was reported that the climate data since 1961, available to GeoSphere Austria, indicated the longest and most consistent yearly deficits in precipitation for eastern Austria in the last 65 years.[4]

At the same time, water levels in the Danube measured at a station in Hainburg an der Donau were reported to be the lowest since the station began operations in 1976, with the lowest values for both July and August being significantly lower than those recorded both during the 2003 European heatwave and on multiple occasions during autumn and winter, when water levels in the Danube in Austria typically reach their yearly lows.[5]

Belgium

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Belgium has been affected by drought.[6] Wallonia brought in drought-related restrictions to resolve water shortages.[7] Flanders has suffered water scarcity.[8] Authorities the Brussels-Capital Region extended a code yellow drought alert.[9] On 14 August a bush fire started in the High Fens, burning at least 900 hectares. [10]

Croatia

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On 7 August, it was reported that, due to a combination of long-standing heat and a lack of precipitation, the waters in the Drava and the Danube in eastern Croatia had fallen to the lowest levels for years.[11] The drought in the region had significantly reduced harvests.[12]

France

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Dry grass at the Roman amphitheatre in Toulouse

Droughts have affected France.[13] Water restrictions have been implemented.[14] Crop yields are expected to plummet.[15] The grape harvest has been affected.[16] Climate change in France has been reportedly a major cause.[17]

Germany

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Low water levels in August 2026 near Bingen, at the confluence of the Rhine and Nahe rivers.

Germany has been affected by droughts.[18]

Record low water levels at the Rhine have disrupted supply chains.[19]

Hungary

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Hungary's only nuclear power plant nearly had to be completely shut down for the first time due to record low water levels of the River Danube.[20] Shipwrecks have been exposed.[21] War relics including a German military motorcycle was exposed in Budapest.[22]

Italy

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The Po river has reportedly dried up.[23] Seawater has drained into the river.[24]

Netherlands

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Effects of lowest recorded water levels of the Rhine

Water shortages have been reported in the Netherlands.[25] Ships and houseboats have been grounded.[26][27]

The Rhine had its lowest recorded water levels at Arnhem.[28]

Serbia

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A sunken German warship from World War II was exposed due to low water levels in the Danube River in Prahovo.[29]

Slovakia

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In Slovakia, police recovered an unexploded British 1,543lb (700kg) bomb due to low water levels.[22]

Slovenia

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On 10 July, it was reported that most of Slovenia had been affected by drought due to a nationwide lack of precipitation over the preceding 30 days, with the drought having a particularly negative influence on the quality of agricultural land.[30] The drought continued into August, leading to the implementation of restrictions on the use of water for non-essential purposes in some parts of the country.[31]

Switzerland

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The drought has affected Switzerland despite rain.[32] this was 50 years after another major drought.[33] Neuchâtel and Schwyz have enacted emergency measures for farmers.[34]

United Kingdom

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In June 2026, the Environment Agency (EA) convened its National Drought Group to discuss the dry spring and recent heatwave. It assessed that the dry weather put England at risk of a ‘flash drought’ similar to the 2022 drought in the United Kingdom, with reducing river flows, low rainfall and increased water use during hot weather.[35][36]

On 29 July 2026, the Environment Agency (EA) declared that most of England was in a drought.[37] This is the third time in five years.[38] Southern England saw its driest month ever recorded since 1836.[39]

It was the driest July on record for nearly 200 years.[40] The entirety of Wales is in drought.[41] There have been record periods without rain.[42] There have been hosepipe bans.[43] The drought status was extended to four more regions in August amid another potential heatwave.[44]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Carrington, Damian (23 July 2026). "Climate crisis-driven heat 'sucking soils dry' as extreme drought hits Europe". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "Several locations haven't been this dry since 1885". Kronen Zeitung. 14 July 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  3. ↑ Koth, Viviane; Öser, Christian; Hummer, Georg; Salzburg, O. R. F. (31 July 2026). "In Bildern: Extreme Trockenheit plagt Österreich". news.ORF.at (in German). Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Anhaltende Dürre: Ostösterreich erlebt trockenste Periode seit mindestens 65 Jahren" [Ongoing drought: Eastern Austria experiences the driest period in at least 65 years]. Der Standard (in German). Standard Verlagsgesellschaft m.b.H. APA. 11 August 2026. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Salmi, Michele (12 August 2026). "Extreme Trockenheit in Österreich setzt sich fort" [Extreme drought in Austria continues]. UWZ.at (in German). UBIMET GmbH. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Drought in Belgium: Waterways reach critically low levels as hot weather continues". The Brussels Times. 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "Belgium's Wallonia region maintains drought restrictions as fire risk remains high". Anadolu. 30 July 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  8. ↑ NWS, VRT (17 July 2026). ""Effective water scarcity": Code orange for drought in Flanders | VRT NWS: news". VRTNWS. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Authorities in Brussels extend drought warning as groundwater levels decline". Anadolu (in Turkish). 5 August 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  10. ↑ NWS, VRT (29 July 2026). "LIVE Al 100 hectare verwoest in Hoge Venen, nog geen gevaar voor omwonenden | VRT NWS Nieuws". VRTNWS (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Drava kod Osijeka u minusu tri metra u odnosu na ranije godine" [The Drava near Osijek is at minus three metres compared to the previous years]. HRT (in Croatian). 7 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Slavonski ratari očajni zbog suše, kukuruz gotovo uništen" [Slavonian farmers are desperate because of drought, maize has been almost completely destroyed]. HRT (in Croatian). 8 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  13. ↑ Sanchez, Léa (30 July 2026). "Unprecedented drought hits central France: 'Nothing grows anymore, it has become a desert'". Le Monde.
  14. ↑ "How could droughts in France affect your summer holiday?". The Independent. 24 July 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  15. ↑ White, Kevin. "Crop yields set to plummet as drought and wildfires devastate food production". The Grocer. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  16. ↑ Rescan, Manon (30 July 2026). "France's grape harvest threatened by drought, despite promising 2026 vintage". Le Monde (in French). ISSN 1950-6244. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "France grapples with 'very worrying' drought after successive heatwaves". France 24. 15 July 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Rhine falls to record low levels as drought strains Europe's rivers". www.bbc.com. 3 August 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  19. ↑ Schuetze, Christopher F.; Cohen, Patricia; Junker, Patrick (6 August 2026). "Drought Threatens a Vital Economic Artery in the Heart of Europe". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  20. ↑ Mizsur, András (6 August 2026). "We need to start conserving water or we'll be forced to make drastic adjustments in the not-too-distant future". Telex.hu. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  21. ↑ https://www.euronews.com/2026/07/31/danube-drought-exposes-everything-from-shipwrecks-to-centuries-old-projectiles
  22. 1 2 Holmes, Oliver (8 August 2026). "Nazi shipwrecks emerge from the depths as Europe's Danube dries up". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  23. ↑ "Italy's Po River valley on drought alert". phys.org. 2026.
  24. ↑ Television, Channels (27 June 2026). "Farmers Fear Drought As Italy's Longest River Runs Dry". Channels Television. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  25. ↑ Quell, Molly (17 July 2026). "The Netherlands is officially in a water shortage". DutchNews.nl. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  26. ↑ Paddison, Laura (21 July 2026). "Stranded houseboats and grounded cruise ships: Europe's rivers are shrinking amid heat and drought | CNN". CNN. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  27. ↑ Darroch, Gordon (6 August 2026). "Dutch houseboat owners left high and dry by falling river levels". DutchNews.nl. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  28. ↑ "Rhine reaches lowest water level ever recorded at Dutch border | NL Times". nltimes.nl. 30 July 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  29. ↑ Paddison, Laura (5 August 2026). "Extreme weather is drying up Europe's rivers in a crisis so dire it can be seen from space | CNN". CNN. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  30. ↑ "Ponekod po Sloveniji izjemno sušne razmere" [Severely dry conditions in parts of Slovenia]. MMC RTV SLO (in Slovenian). MMC RTV Slovenija. 10 July 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  31. ↑ "Ministrstvo zaradi čedalje hujše suše poziva k varčevanju z vodo" [Ministry urges water conservation due to worsening drought]. MMC RTV SLO (in Slovenian). MMC RTV Slovenija. 7 August 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  32. ↑ swissinfo.ch, S. W. I. (12 June 2026). "Drought continues in Switzerland despite rain". SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  33. ↑ Jorio, Luigi (28 July 2026). "Sparse rainfall and heatwaves have put Switzerland on drought alert". SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  34. ↑ "Switzerland Grapples with Worsening Drought, Energy Fears, and Fire Bans". Swiss Observer. 7 August 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  35. ↑ "National Drought Group meets after dry spring and recent heatwave". GOV.UK. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  36. ↑ Burnett, Nuala (5 August 2026). "Droughts in England". Insight. House of Commons Library.
  37. ↑ Poynting, Mark (29 July 2026). "More than half of England in drought, Environment Agency declares". BBC News. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  38. ↑ "Why do parts of England and Wales keep falling into drought?". BBC News. 30 July 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  39. ↑ Seabrook, Victoria (3 August 2026). "'Truly exceptional': England and Wales see driest July on record, provisional Met Office figures show". Sky News.
  40. ↑ McKernan, Bethan; Laville, Sandra (23 July 2026). "Drought declared in parts of Wales as July on course to be driest in nearly 200 years". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  41. ↑ McKernan, Bethan (2 August 2026). "Relentless UK heatwaves turn 'green and pleasant land' brown". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  42. ↑ Taylor, Matt (6 August 2026). "Record spells with no rain across parts of central and south-east England". BBC Weather. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  43. ↑ "Hosepipe ban in force for millions of households - is your area affected?". BBC News. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2026.
  44. ↑ Neill, Pippa; Gregory, Andrew (10 August 2026). "Three-quarters of England in drought as summer's fifth heatwave looms". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
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