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Severe drought conditions across Central and Western Europe have caused record-low water levels in major rivers and significant vegetation decline.

Drought conditions have worsened across Central and Western Europe since the start of the summer, with southern England, northern Italy, and parts of Central Europe being the hardest-hit areas. The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre reported that the Loire, Po, Rhine, and Danube rivers have reached record-low levels due to continued hotter and drier conditions. In Germany, the Rhine River has experienced unprecedented low water levels, particularly near Kaub, where the water level reached a record low of 19 centimeters on August 5. This decline has disrupted inland waterway shipping, forcing vessels to carry lighter loads and causing some to become stranded. In England, the United Kingdom’s Environment Agency announced that 71.3 percent of England was officially in drought, with July being the driest July on record since 1836. Satellite imagery from the Global Drought Observatory and SkySat shows significant vegetation decline in cities like London and Vienna, where green spaces have turned brown and pale due to extreme heat and lack of rainfall.

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