France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal — almost every European country is feeling the bite of a drought that wears a visible face of fires and empty reservoirs. Experts warn that the drought will ripple through agriculture, energy supply and water availability in the short, medium and long term, touching daily life and national economies alike.
As Europe braces for potential gas shortages this winter, nations not typically known for dry spells are confronting a fresh water deficit. Spain, the member state with the most reservoirs, shows a troubling trend. The Ministry of Ecological Transformation notes that national water reserves have declined for three straight months. Reservoirs currently hold about 40% of capacity, a stark drop from the ten-year average of roughly 60%. The situation is among the driest and most challenging in recent memory for the country that still relies heavily on water for agriculture and industry.
This is a country preparing for water scarcity while others, less accustomed to such conditions, face their own tests. Germany has seen the Rhine slow to a level that restricts commercial traffic. The United Kingdom endured its driest July since 1935, underscoring a wider pattern of adaptation and resilience that is being stretched across northern Europe.
Drought aggravates Spain: Lowest water reserves in millennia force tap to shut
In Yorkshire, England, August 26 marks a clear shift in policy. Hosepipe bans prohibit watering gardens, washing cars and filling children’s pools. Local water authorities warn that rivers running lower than expected push reservoirs to endure more strain, a reality highlighted by Neil Dewis, head of a regional water-management firm who notes the figures are tougher than typical for this time of year.
Italy faces its own strains as drought presses downward on governance. Five regions have already declared a state of emergency due to the dryness. Northern parts have implemented irrigation restrictions, blocked pool fills and introduced nocturnal water cuts to stretch scarce supplies for essential needs.
Beyond outright consumption, evaporation and reduced rainfall are reshaping food production as well. The European Crop Monitor notes that water scarcity and rising temperatures have altered forecasts for key crops, with staples once imagined as reliable pillars of Europe facing new pressures as Ukraine’s ongoing conflict compounds agricultural risk.
The picture is especially worrisome for France, Spain, Romania, Portugal and Italy, though Germany, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia are not immune to the trend. In Spain and Italy, winter and summer harvests show the impact of low precipitation and high temperatures, while in Germany and Poland the central issue remains insufficient rainfall. The European drought assessment emphasizes that this is not a temporary blip; the pattern is expected to intensify through mid-year into the fall season, increasing pressure on water and energy sectors across multiple countries and ecosystems.
Forecasts suggest that July through September will bring drought conditions that test the limits of already stressed resources across France, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, northern Spain and Italy, along with the majority of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The overall prognosis points to a drought that could become more pronounced unless rainfall improves and reservoirs sustain higher inflows. This scenario carries implications for climate resilience, farming livelihoods and energy security, demanding coordinated policy responses and practical adaptation measures from governments and communities alike.
Experts describe the unfolding drought as a risk multiplier for climate-related impacts on agriculture and water supply. Higher temperatures and drier vegetation create conditions ripe for fires that spread quickly across landscapes. France has already mobilized assistance to manage a disaster that has scorched tens of thousands of hectares. Firefighting resources from Germany, Poland, Romania and Austria are being deployed, while Sweden and Greece have chartered aircraft to aid in extinguishing the flames. The evolving emergency underscores the need for regional cooperation and proactive fire-management strategies to protect communities and natural resources as the drought persists across Europe.