Europe's drought deepens under climate‑driven heat surge

Scientists say climate change is intensifying drought across Europe as extreme heat accelerates evaporation of water stored in soils and rivers. The resulting low water levels are disrupting river traffic, agriculture and industry in several countries, with Romania restricting irrigation for farmers, Greece declaring emergency measures on seven islands, France fearing its lowest corn harvest in 50 years, and the Netherlands announcing a water shortage.

An analysis by the World Weather Attribution network found that the conditions that promote rapid evaporation were about 80 times more likely in western Europe and 40 times more likely in eastern Europe from January to June compared with pre‑industrial times. Climate expert Sarah Kew of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute said, “Extreme heat has become the primary driver of drought on our continent,” noting that soil‑water losses are now occurring faster than they would in a world without climate change.