Ireland climate study links record drought to increased evaporation

A new study indicates that climate change has significantly intensified the impact of Ireland’s record-setting July 2026 drought. While researchers found no direct link between human-driven warming and the specific lack of rainfall, they determined that increased atmospheric evaporation made the drought approximately eight times more likely and 7% more intense by pulling moisture from soil and plants.

During this period, Ireland received only 17% of its average rainfall, marking the driest July on record. The study also noted that climate change has made daytime temperature extremes similar to those seen in 2026 about 40 times more likely, while warm nighttime lows are now over 1,000 times more likely.

In response to these shifting patterns, the Climate Change Advisory Council has urged the Irish government to move away from treating extreme weather as isolated emergencies. The council noted that the country is experiencing a cycle of extremes, moving from severe flooding to exceptional heat and drought. Professor Peter Thorne, chair of the council’s Adaptation Committee, stated that the government must accelerate mitigation and systematic adaptation to protect infrastructure and communities rather than simply repairing damage after events occur.