From the United Kingdom to Denmark, northern Europe struck by an exceptional drought-Liberation
Sols usually full of water, but which have been dry for many weeks, to the point of being dusty in places. A drought never seen for decades strikes part of the north from Europe, ranging from the United Kingdom to Scandinavia, via Belgium, the Netherlands and the North of France
The British islands have so far experienced their driest spring for over a century and a half. In the north of England, the levels of the water tanks « Are particularly, even exceptionally low »according to the Environment Agency. In the Netherlands, he had never rained so little since the bearing early in 1906.
In Denmark, the Meteorological Institute warned in early May that the last three months had been exceptionally dry, with less than 63 mm of rain recorded. « Since 1874, it only happened 7 times that the period from February to April has less precipitation »he noted. To this is added sunshine and temperatures above normal for Denmark. Since May 15, the drought index is greater than or equal to 9 on a scale of 1 to 10, which has never happened so early since this index was established in 2005, underlined the institute.
A #Europe upside down: since the end of winter, the #drought settled on the north of the continent and the British islands due to an indestructible #anticyclone which obliges the depression to bypass it from the south. This scenario is repeated this week. pic.twitter.com/pqcfvytabq
– The weather channel (@lachainemeteo) May 4, 2025
In Sweden, the Federation of Farmers advises operators to review their water planning. Because in the fields, Spring sowing have not yet germinated Because of exceptionally dry time.
If the situation continued, it risks reducing future crop yields that farmers are sowing. When there is a deficit of water in the fields of wheat, corn, rapeseed or barley, their « Growth is limited »explains Nicolas Guilpart, lecturer in agronomy at Agro Paris Tech.
In France, the water tables, in the basement, are well filled, but the plants need surface water to push, and therefore rain. Gold, The north is placed in drought vigilance Since Monday: the department has received, between February and early May, the amount of rain that usually falls in a month, and the northeast wind has accentuated soil drying up. Also in France the temperatures are above normal, especially in Hauts-de-France.
But this intense drought in a part of northern Europe contrasts with that of the southern continent, and in particular Spain and Portugal where we measured until double the usual quantities of rain over this period. The south of France has also been swept away by strong bad weather in recent days, which have notably caused the death of three people in the Var.
