Latest news with #EuropeanDroughtObservatory
L'Orient-Le Jour
30-07-2025
- Climate
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Record drought for early July in Europe and the Mediterranean basin
More than half (52 percent) of soils in Europe and the Mediterranean basin were affected by drought at the beginning of July, according to AFP's analysis of the latest data from the European Drought Observatory (EDO). This is the highest rate recorded for the period from July 1 to 10 since observations began in 2012, 21 percentage points higher than the 2012-2024 average. However, the level of drought slightly decreased compared to the last ten days of June, when the absolute record was reached with 55.5 percent of Europe and Mediterranean coasts affected. The drought indicator from the European Copernicus program observatory, based on satellite observations, combines three parameters: precipitation, soil moisture and vegetation condition. It is divided into three drought levels (monitoring, warning, alert). Eastern Europe is the hardest hit. In Kosovo, Serbia and Bulgaria, nearly 100% of soils are affected by drought and more than a third are on alert. Water cuts affected more than 156,000 people in Bulgaria in mid-July, as this resource becomes increasingly scarce each year. In Hungary, nearly half the territory was on alert at the beginning of July (47 percent), a significant increase compared to the end of June (21 percent). Across all levels, drought is also pronounced in the eastern Mediterranean, especially in Armenia (95percent.) In Turkey (77 percent), the situation, combined with strong winds, has led to hundreds of fires. Half of Syria is also affected by a drought that threatens the wheat harvest and puts more than 16 million residents at risk of food insecurity this year, according to the U.N. In Western Europe, the situation is more mixed. In the United Kingdom, 18 percent of soils are on alert, up more than 6 points compared to the end of June. France is also affected, with 12 percent of its territory on alert, mainly in the west. In total, two-thirds of French soils are affected by drought. By contrast, Spain and Portugal remain relatively protected, with very low drought rates (6 percent and 1 percent.)
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Almost half of Europe and Mediterranean basin hit by drought
AI- Generated Image PARIS: Europe and the Mediterranean basin has been hit by a long-lasting drought covering over 45 percent of the region since mid-March, according to AFP analysis of European Drought Observatory (EDO) data made available on Tuesday. It is the first time since data collection began in 2012 that such an extensive part of the region has been hit by a drought for more than three consecutive months, heightening the risk of wildfires. A series of fires broke out in Turkey and Greece at the start of the summer, where on average 72 percent and 56 percent of soils have been dry since mid-March. Greek firefighters said on Saturday that they remained on high alert because of the high temperatures and strong winds blowing throughout the country. The Drought Observatory Indicator determined by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service uses satellite imagery to measure three parameters: precipitation, or rainfall, soil moisture and the state of vegetation. Findings are then categorised into one of three levels of drought: watch, warning and alert -- the last level signalling that vegetation is developing abnormally. The EDO data -- up to June 20 -- shows that drought in the region has worsened. Since the start of June, seven percent of soils have been on alert, twice as much as in mid-March. Eastern European countries are the most concerned. Record highs for this time of year were registered in Ukraine and Belarus, where respectively 31 percent and 25 percent of land is on alert. To the west, the United Kingdom has been hit by a large drought drying up over 70 percent of its land since the end of March. England, in particular, experienced its "driest spring in more than 100 years", the official weather service said. Further south, Spain and Portugal have been mostly spared from alarming levels of dryness, with respectively four percent and less than one percent of lands on alert from June 11-20. This is a lot less than usual at this time of year: between 2012 and 2024, on average 32 percent of Spain and 27 percent of Portugal were on alert. Both countries experienced heavy rainfall at the start of spring, including the deadly floods in the Spanish region of Valencia. French weather service Meteo France warned that "unusually dry vegetation in July" could "fuel wildfire outbreaks", with the first major fires of the summer breaking out in France over the weekend.
Korea Herald
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Korea Herald
Almost half of Europe and Mediterranean basin hit by drought
PARIS (AFP) -- Europe and the Mediterranean basin has been hit by a long-lasting drought covering over 45 percent of the region since mid-March, according to Agence France-Presse analysis of European Drought Observatory data made available on Tuesday. It is the first time since data collection began in 2012 that such an extensive part of the region has been hit by a drought for more than three consecutive months, heightening the risk of wildfires. A series of fires broke out in Turkey and Greece at the start of the summer, where on average 72 percent and 56 percent of soils have been dry since mid-March. Greek firefighters said on Saturday that they remained on high alert because of the high temperatures and strong winds blowing throughout the country. The Drought Observatory Indicator determined by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service uses satellite imagery to measure three parameters: precipitation, or rainfall, soil moisture and the state of vegetation. Findings are then categorised into one of three levels of drought: watch, warning and alert -- the last level signalling that vegetation is developing abnormally. The EDO data -- up to June 20 -- shows that drought in the region has worsened. Since the start of June, seven percent of soils have been on alert, twice as much as in mid-March. Eastern European countries are the most concerned. Record highs for this time of year were registered in Ukraine and Belarus, where respectively 31 percent and 25 percent of land is on alert. To the west, the United Kingdom has been hit by a large drought drying up over 70 percent of its land since the end of March. England, in particular, experienced its "driest spring in more than 100 years," the official weather service said. Further south, Spain and Portugal have been mostly spared from alarming levels of dryness, with respectively four percent and less than one percent of lands on alert from June 11-20. This is a lot less than usual at this time of year: between 2012 and 2024, on average 32 percent of Spain and 27 percent of Portugal were on alert. Both countries experienced heavy rainfall at the start of spring, including the deadly floods in the Spanish region of Valencia. French weather service Meteo France warned that "unusually dry vegetation in July" could "fuel wildfire outbreaks," with the first major fires of the summer breaking out in France over the weekend.
Straits Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Over half of Europe and Mediterranean basin hit by drought in mid-May
A cyclist stopping by a dry pond near Oud-Heverlee in Belgium on May 14. PHOTO: AFP Over half of Europe and Mediterranean basin hit by drought in mid-May PARIS - More than half, or 53 per cent of land in Europe and the Mediterranean basin were hit by drought in mid-May, according to an AFP analysis of data from the European Drought Observatory (EDO) from May 11-20, 2025. It was the highest level recorded for that period of time in the year since monitoring began in 2012, and more than 20 points higher than the average between 2012-2024. The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, based on satellite imagery, takes into account three benchmarks: precipitations, or rainfall, soil moisture and the state of vegetation. There are three levels of drought: watch, warning and alert. Between May 11-20, 42 per cent of Europe's soil and the Mediterranean basin were lacking in moisture, at a warning level, and 5 per cent at alert level, signalling that vegetation was developing abnormally. Northern, eastern and central European countries were mainly concerned, with high alert levels. Some 19 per cent of Ukrainian territory was on a state of alert, while other countries were in a worrying situation, including Belarus (17 per cent), Poland (10 per cent), Hungary and Slovakia (9 per cent). To the south, the level of alert stood at 20 per cent in some countries and territories, including in Syria, Cyprus and the Palestinian territories. While stopping short of a state of alert, several countries were in mid-May hit by some kind of large drought, including the United Kingdom across 98 per cent of its territory since mid-March. People walking their dog on the dried banks of Baitings Reservoir - partially revealed by a falling water level - near Ripponden, northern England, on May 9. PHOTO: AFP The UK's official weather service, the Met Office, said the UK experienced its its warmest spring on record – and its driest in more than 50 years. The European Central Bank warned on May 23 of major economic risks from drought, which can threaten up to 15 per cent of production in the eurozone due to increasing extreme weather caused by climate change. AFP A May 21 photo showing the partially dried-up river bed of the Rhine river in Cologne, western Germany. PHOTO: AFP Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Over half of Europe and Mediterranean basin hit by drought in mid-May
More than half, or 53 percent of land in Europe and the Mediterranean basin were hit by drought in mid-May, according to an AFP analysis of data from the European Drought Observatory (EDO) from May 11-20, 2025. It was the highest level recorded for that period of time in the year since monitoring began in 2012, and more than 20 points higher than the average between 2012-2024. The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, based on satellite imagery, takes into account three benchmarks: precipitations, or rainfall, soil moisture and the state of vegetation. - Watch, warning, alert - There are three levels of drought: watch, warning and alert. Between May 11-20, 42 percent of Europe's soil and the Mediterranean basin were lacking in moisture, at a warning level, and five percent at alert level, signalling that vegetation was developping abnormally. Northern, eastern and central European countries were mainly concerned, with high alert levels. Some 19 percent of Ukrainian territory was on a state of alert while other countries were in a worrying situation, including Belarus (17 percent), Poland (10 percent), Hungary and Slovakia (nine percent). To the south, the level of alert stood at 20 percent in some countries and territories, including in Syria, Cyprus and the Palestinian territories. While stopping short of a state of alert, several countries were in mid-May hit by some kind of large drought, including the United Kingdom across 98 percent of its territory since mid-March. The UK's official weather service The Met Office said the UK experienced its its warmest spring on record -- and its driest in more than 50 years. The European Central Bank warned on May 23 of major economic risks from drought, which can threaten up to 15 percent of production in the eurozone due to increasing extreme weather caused by climate change. shu-grp/nlc/jmy
