Study finds heat is driving Europe's droughts

5 min read

A multi-country analysis by World Weather Attribution and scientists from 12 European countries shows that extreme summer heat, not just low rainfall, is now the dominant driver of agricultural drought across Europe. The study finds soil moisture is evaporating far faster because of higher potential evapotranspiration, making western Europe soil droughts five times more likely and eastern Europe droughts 11 times more likely. Heatwave conditions that drive strong evaporation are now roughly 80 times more likely in western Europe and 40 times in eastern Europe, contributing to crop losses, low rivers that disrupt shipping, and pressure on energy systems.

Heat-driven evaporation is making European droughts far more likely.