Climate crisis heat ‘sucking soils dry’ as extreme drought grips Europe

Extreme heat driven by the climate crisis is intensifying a severe drought across Europe, with scientists warning that rising temperatures are literally sucking moisture from the ground. A new study shows that record-breaking heatwaves have made the atmosphere thirstier, dramatically increasing evaporation from rivers, lakes, soils, and plants. The conditions that have left western Europe in extreme drought were made 80 times more likely by global heating in the west and 40 times more likely in the east, according to the analysis.

Heat, not just lack of rain, driving drought

Traditionally, droughts are linked to low rainfall, but this summer's crisis is different. Western Europe experienced a wet winter, yet the combination of soaring temperatures and dry spring has parched the soil. The scientists behind the study say the climate crisis is redefining drought: the current drought in western Europe would have been classified as ‘moderate’ in a world without global heating. 'We now see an enhanced tendency for unusual soil drying already in spring, before summer has even begun,' said Dr Dominik Schumacher of ETH Zurich. 'That is our own doing: as temperatures climb, the atmosphere’s thirst increases quickly, sucking moisture out of rivers, lakes, reservoirs and the soil.'

Widespread impacts on food, water, and energy

The drought, assessed through the end of June, is already causing major disruptions. Many countries have imposed emergency water restrictions, with much of southern England under a hosepipe ban. Wildfires have raged through Spain and France, and farmers are facing some of the driest soils on record. About 9 million tonnes of grain are expected to be lost across Europe; France anticipates its worst maize harvest in 50 years, and Romanian farmers have lost over a million hectares of crops. Rivers across the continent are running low, hampering hydropower generation and cargo shipping. The Rhine at Lobith in the Netherlands is already lower than the minimum level recorded during the notorious hot summer of 1976. Scientists warn that these disruptions could push up food and energy prices, hitting low-income households hardest.

Earlier onset, heightened wildfire risk

The 2026 drought has arrived two months earlier than the severe drought of 2022, according to Schumacher. The early drying creates prime conditions for dangerous wildfires. 'Conditions starting off fairly wet and then transitioning to very, very dry are the prime ingredients for an extreme fire season, because more vegetation can grow and then burn later on,' he explained. The study underscores a strong link between human-caused climate change and the drying of European summers. Dr Mariam Zachariah of Imperial College London said the findings are alarming, though further details from her were not available.

Looking ahead

With the drought already causing significant harm, the coming weeks will test Europe's resilience. If the extreme heat persists, the continent could face even greater damage to agriculture, water supplies, and energy systems. The study serves as a stark reminder that climate change is not a distant threat but a current crisis reshaping the fundamentals of life in Europe. Policymakers must urgently adapt water management, invest in drought-resistant crops, and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels to prevent such events from becoming the new normal.