Drought conditions in Europe in mid-March 2024
The map displays persistent drought conditions in southern Europe in mid-March, with severe and critical conditions in most of the Mediterranean region.
There are almost no signs of drought in the rest of Europe. Eastern Europe is experiencing residual drought conditions. Scandinavia is seeing only scattered drought spots with no significant impact.
The Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) in mid-March 2024 indicated that southern and eastern Spain, south-western France, most of Italy, Malta, central Romania, most of Greece, north-western Balkans, Cyprus, and central Türkiye were in warning conditions.
Watch conditions affected the western shores of the Black Sea.
In most of Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the inner and Atlantic Iberian Peninsula, most of France, Benelux, Germany, most of Poland, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, central Balkans, and most of Türkiye there were recovery or normal conditions.
Some areas in the Mediterranean Region, particularly in southern Italy and southern Spain were under alert conditions, with drought affecting vegetation. This phenomenon continues to be much more severe and prolonged in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, with relevant impacts.
During this period, temperatures have been above the seasonal average across Europe, with a short warm spell in the Iberian Peninsula.
Note: this analysis was performed on 26-03-2024, based on data referring to mid-March.
Beginning of March 2024
Drought conditions in Europe at the beginning of March 2024
The map displays persistent drought conditions in southern Europe in early March, with severe and critical conditions in most of the Mediterranean region and almost no drought in the rest of Europe.
Eastern Europe is experiencing residual drought conditions. Scandinavia is seeing only scattered drought spots with no significant impact.
The Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) in early March 2024 indicated that southern and eastern Spain, southern France, most of Italy, Malta, central Romania, most of Greece, north-western Balkans, Cyprus, and central Türkiye were in warning conditions.
Watch conditions affected the western and northern shores of the Black Sea.
In most of Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the inner and Atlantic Iberian Peninsula, most of France, Benelux, Germany, most of Poland, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, central-eastern Balkans, and most of Türkiye there were recovery or normal conditions.
Some areas in the Mediterranean Region, particularly in southern Italy, southern Spain and Malta, were under alert conditions, with drought affecting vegetation. This phenomenon continues to be much more severe and prolonged in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, with relevant impacts.
During this period, temperatures have been above the seasonal average across Europe, with a short warm spell in eastern and northern Europe. Positively, despite being late in the season, the Alps, Apennines, and Pyrenees were covered by snow, giving some prospect for irrigation water availability in spring 2024 for the surrounding plains.
End of February 2024
Drought conditions in Europe at the end of February 2024
The map displays persistent drought conditions in southern Europe in late February, with severe and critical conditions in most of the Mediterranean region and almost no drought in the rest of Europe.
Eastern Europe is experiencing residual drought conditions. Scandinavia is seeing variable drought conditions, but no significant impact is observed due to the dormant vegetation in that area in February, and recent precipitation triggered some recovery.
The Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) in late February 2024 indicated that southern and eastern Spain, southern France, most of Italy, Malta, central Romania, most of Greece, north-western Balkans, Cyprus and central Türkiye were in warning conditions.
In most of Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland, the inner and Atlantic Iberian Peninsula, most of France, Benelux, Germany, most of Poland, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, central-eastern Balkans, and most of Türkiye there were recovery or normal conditions.
Scandinavia was showing variable conditions based on precipitation patterns, as reflected in the CDI classes.
Some areas in the Mediterranean Region, particularly in southern Italy, southern Spain and Malta, were under alert conditions, with drought affecting vegetation. This phenomenon is much more severe and prolonged in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, where the situation is serious and led to water rationing and dried-up reservoirs. Also in Spain, notably in Catalonia, reservoirs were reported to be empty, and rationing was put in place.
During this period, temperatures have been above the seasonal average across Europe, with a prolonged warm spell in eastern Europe.
Mid-February 2024
Drought conditions in Europe in mid-February 2024
The map displays persistent drought conditions in southern Europe in mid-February, with severe and critical conditions in most of the Mediterranean region and almost no drought in the rest of Europe.
Eastern Europe is experiencing residual drought conditions. Scandinavia is seeing variable drought conditions, but no significant impact is observed due to the dormant vegetation in that area in February. Recent precipitation triggered some recovery.
The Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) in mid-February 2024 indicated that southern and eastern Spain, southern France, most of Italy, Malta, central Romania, most of Greece, north-western Balkans, Cyprus and central Türkiye were in warning conditions.
In most of Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland, the inner and Atlantic Iberian Peninsula, most of France, Benelux, Germany, most of Poland, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, central-eastern Balkans, and most of Türkiye, scattered warning conditions were disappearing, with recovery or normal conditions.
Scandinavia was showing variable conditions based on precipitation patterns, as reflected in the CDI classes. Recent precipitation favoured the recovery in particular in southern UK and Scandinavia. Scattered conditions appeared also in France and Italy.
Some areas in the Mediterranean Region, particularly in southern Italy, southern Spain and Malta, were under alert conditions, with drought affecting vegetation. This phenomenon is much more severe and prolonged in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, where the situation is serious and led to water rationing and dried-up reservoirs. Also in Spain, notably in Catalonia, reservoirs were reported to be empty, and rationing was put in place.
During this period, temperatures have been above the seasonal average across Europe, with a prolonged warm spell in eastern and central Europe.
Beginning of February 2024
Drought conditions in Europe at the beginning of February 2024
The map displays persistent drought conditions in southern Europe in early February, with most of the Mediterranean Region facing severe and critical conditions, while the rest of Europe shows almost no drought.
Eastern Europe is experiencing residual drought conditions. Meanwhile, Scandinavia is seeing variable drought conditions, but no significant impact is observed due to the dormant vegetation in that area in February. However, low water levels in rivers and creeks are expected.
The Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) in early February 2024 indicated that southern and eastern Spain, southern France, most of Italy, Malta, central Romania, southern Greece, Cyprus and central Türkiye were in warning conditions.
In most of Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland, the inner and Atlantic Iberian Peninsula, most of France, Benelux, Germany, most of Poland, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, the Balkans, and most of Türkiye, scattered warning conditions were decreasing and mostly there were recovery or normal conditions.
Scandinavia was showing variable conditions based on precipitation patterns, as reflected in the CDI classes.
Some areas in the Mediterranean Region, particularly in southern Italy, southern Spain and Malta, were under alert conditions, with drought affecting vegetation. This phenomenon is much more severe and prolonged in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, where the situation is serious and led to water rationing and dried-up reservoirs. Also in Spain, notably in Catalonia, reservoirs were reported to be empty, and rationing was put in place.
During this period, temperatures have been above the seasonal average across Europe, with a prolonged warm spell in the Alps, Italy, and eastern Europe. In the Alps, the snowpack is lower than usual.
End of January 2024
Drought conditions in Europe at the end of January 2024
The map displays persistent drought conditions in southern Europe with most of the Mediterranean Region facing bad and potentially critical conditions, while the rest of Europe shows almost no drought in late January.
Eastern Europe is experiencing some progressive recovery, and Scandinavia is also seeing recovery conditions.
The Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) in late January 2024 indicated that southern and eastern Spain, southern France, most of Italy, Malta, eastern Poland, central Romania, southern Greece, Cyprus and central Türkiye were in warning conditions.
In most of Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland, the inner and Atlantic Iberian Peninsula, most of France, Benelux, Germany, most of Poland, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, the Balkans, most of Türkiye, and northern Greece, scattered warning conditions were decreasing and mostly there were recovery, normal or very wet conditions.
Most of Scandinavia was recovering thanks to some precipitation after a recent short meteorological drought, reflected in the CDI that shows recovery conditions.
Some areas in the Mediterranean Region, particularly in southern Italy, southern Spain and Malta, are under alert conditions, with vegetation affected by the drought. This phenomenon is much more severe and prolonged in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, where the situation is serious, leading to water rationing and dried up reservoirs. To alleviate the situation, the Moroccan government is accelerating projects to desalinate seawater.
During this period, temperatures have been above the seasonal average for the entire Europe, with short warm spells in the Alps and northern Scandinavia. In the Alps, the snowpack is lower than usual, even if snow is expected for February.
Mid-January 2024
Drought conditions in Europe in mid-January 2024
The map displays very stable conditions for drought in Europe: bad and potentially critical conditions for most of the Mediterranean regions, while almost no drought across most of the rest of Europe in mid-January with respect to drought hazard.
Eastern Europe is continuing some progressive recovering, while northern Scandinavia is experiencing initial meteorological drought.
The Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) in mid-January 2024 indicated that southern and eastern Spain, southern France, most of Italy, Malta, eastern Poland, central Romania, southern Greece, Cyprus and central Türkiye were in warning conditions.
In most of Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland, the inner and Atlantic Iberian Peninsula, most of France, Benelux, Germany, most of Poland, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, the Balkans, most of Türkiye, and northern Greece, scattered warning conditions were decreasing and mostly there were recovery or normal conditions.
Some regions of northern Scandinavia experienced meteorological drought and the CDI reflected this lack of precipitation with watch conditions.
Some areas in the Mediterranean, particularly in southern Italy, southern Spain and Malta, were under “alert” conditions, with vegetation affected by the drought. This phenomenon is much more severe and prolonged in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, where the situation appears to be serious.
During this period, temperatures have been above the seasonal average for central and southern Europe, with a short warm spell in the Iberian Peninsula. In the Southern Alps, the snowpack is lower than usual. Temperatures were lower than usual in northern Europe.
Beginning of January 2024
Drought conditions in Europe at the beginning of January 2024
The map displays worsening and potentially drought critical conditions in the Mediterranean regions, while most of the rest of Europe has seen an improvement in drought hazard at the beginning of January. Eastern Europe has also experiencing some progressive recovering.
The Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) at the beginning of January 2024 indicated south-eastern Spain, southern France, most of Italy, eastern Poland, central Romania, southern Greece, and central Türkiye were in warning conditions.
In most of Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland, most of the Iberian Peninsula, most of France, the Netherlands, Germany, most of Poland, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, the Balkans, most of Türkiye, and northern Greece scattered warning conditions were decreasing and mostly theere were recovery or normal conditions.
Some regions of northern Scandinavia experienced meteorological drought, as reflected by the CDI that indicated watch conditions due to lack of precipitation.
Some areas in the Mediterranean, particularly southern Italy and southern Spain, were under “alert” conditions, with vegetation affected by the drought. This phenomenon is much more severe and prolonged in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia where the situation appears to be serious. Morocco is entering its sixth consecutive year of drought.
During this period, temperatures have been above the seasonal average in central and southern Europe, with a short warm spell in eastern Europe. In the Alps, the snowpack is lower than usual. Temperatures have been lower than usual in northern Europe.
End of December 2023
The map displays improved conditions across Europe at the end of December with respect to drought risk.
The Mediterranean regions remained under drought conditions, while eastern Europe has been experiencing some progressive recovering with precipitation.
The Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) at the end of December 2023 indicated south-eastern Spain, southern France, most of Italy, north-eastern Poland, part of Moldova, central Romania, southern Greece and central Türkiye were in warning conditions.
In most of Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland, most of Iberian Peninsula, most of France, the Netherlands, Germany, southern Poland, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, the Balkans, most of Türkiye, northern Greece, scattered warning conditions were decreasing and mostly there were recovery or normal conditions.
Only a few areas in the Mediterranean, particularly in southern Italy and southern Spain, were under “alert” conditions, with vegetation affected by the drought. This phenomenon extends to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia where the situation appears to be serious. Morocco is entering the sixth consecutive year of drought. The Global Drought Observatory provides more social economic information regarding these countries.
During this period, temperatures have been above the seasonal average for most of Europe, with a short warm spell in Italy and eastern Europe. In the Alps, the snowpack is lower than usual.
Mid-December 2023
The map displays improved conditions across Europe in mid-December with respect to drought risk.
The Mediterranean regions remained under drought conditions, while eastern Europe has been experiencing some precipitation leading to less drought conditions.
The Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) in mid-December 2023 indicated south-eastern Spain, southern France, most of Italy, north-eastern Poland, part of Moldova, central Romania, southern Greece and central Türkiye were in warning conditions.
In most of Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland, most of Iberian Peninsula, most of France, the Netherlands, Germany, southern Poland, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, the Balkans, most of Türkiye and northern Greece, scattered warning conditions were decreasing and mostly there were recovery or normal conditions.
Only a few areas in the Mediterranean, particularly in southern Italy, were under “alert” conditions, with vegetation affected by the drought.
During this period, temperatures have been slightly above the seasonal average for most of Europe, with a short warm spell in southern Baltic regions. In the Alps and central Europe, this positive temperature anomaly led to less snow precipitation in favour of more rain. Therefore, water levels in Rhine, Elbe, Weser and Meuse were higher than usual in December, occurring earlier than the typical snowmelt season.