53% of Europe and Mediterranean Basin Impacted by Drought in Mid-May: Report

Drought impacted 53 percent of lands throughout Europe and the Mediterranean basin from May 11 to 20, 2025, according to data from the European Drought Observatory (EDO).

The level of drought was more than 20 points above the average for 2012 to 2024, and the highest recorded for that period in May, reported AFP.

“The Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) for the period 11-20 May 2025 shows worsening drought conditions in central and eastern Europe,” the report said. “Prolonged and critical drought conditions continue in the South-Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. During this 10-day period, temperatures have been above the seasonal average in northern Europe.”

Using satellite imagery, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service considers three benchmarks in assessing drought conditions: precipitation, the state of vegetation and soil moisture, AFP reported.

In addition, there are three drought levels: watch, warning and alert.

In some parts of the Mediterranean — especially Greece, Cyprus, southeastern Spain and the southeastern Balkans — drought conditions continue to persist, affecting vegetation.

Alert conditions also continue in northern and western Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Israel, central and south-eastern Türkiye, parts of Jordan, Iran, northern Iraq and Azerbaijan.

From May 11 to 20, 42 percent of soils in Europe and the Mediterranean basin lacked moisture and were at a warning level, while five percent were at an alert level, indicating vegetation was not growing normally.

Countries in northern, central and eastern Europe were at high alert levels.

Roughly 19 percent of territory in Ukraine was on alert, with other countries in concerning circumstances, including nine percent of Hungary and Slovakia, 10 percent of Poland and 17 percent of lands in Belarus.

The alert level for some territories and countries was as high as 20 percent, including the Palestinian territories, Cyprus and Syria.

Several countries were experiencing drought conditions in mid-May without being at an alert level, including 98 percent of the United Kingdom. According to the UK’s Met Office, the country had its driest spring in over 50 years, as well as its warmest spring ever recorded.

Drought warning conditions are currently in effect in the UK, Ireland, northern France, Benelux, the Baltic Sea region, several regions of Germany, Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, most of Ukraine, Belarus, central and western Romania, Bulgaria, Southern Russia, some parts of Greece, Cyprus, small parts of the western Balkans, Malta, most of Türkiye and the southern Mediterranean islands, EDO said.

In Great Britain, several regions are under drought watch conditions because of a persistent precipitation deficit. Central Europe, Scandinavia, central Europe and eastern Romania are also experiencing watch conditions.

Alert and warning conditions in northern Africa have persisted for more than a year, with conditions remaining critical and improvements slow.

On May 23, the European Central Bank warned of major economic risks due to drought, which can threaten as much as 15 percent of eurozone production from increasing climate change-induced extreme weather.