NASA’s Terra satellite shows where green vegetation in May 2022 (left) turned brown by May 2023 (right). The drought dried up reservoirs, parched olive groves, and led to water restrictions.
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European drought

Most of southern and western Europe saw an exceptionally dry and warm winter 2022-23, according to a report issued in March 2023 by the European Drought Observatory in partnership with Copernicus. By springtime, the impacts of the emerging drought were already visible in France, Spain and northern Italy, raising concerns on water supply, agriculture and energy production.

This follows on from 2022, when Europe was affected by a significant drought due to a persistent lack of precipitation and the second lowest surface soil moisture in the last 50 years. According to the European State of Climate report for 2022 that was issued by Copernicus recently, lower than average precipitation along with above average temperatures and extreme heatwaves led to widespread and prolonged drought across much of Europe. And for some regions in Europe, drought continues to have a major impact into 2023, especially Italy, Spain and France.

 

Italy

Drought conditions in northern Italy have had a big impact on the levels of some of the rivers and lakes. During April 2023, the Po River, Italy’s longest river, reached its lowest level ever recorded in April. Meanwhile, Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, was at its lowest level in 70 years. Lake Garda is a crucial freshwater reservoir and the current capacity of the lake puts at risk its ability to sustain agriculture, local communities, tourism and navigation.

 

 

Spain

Drought is also having a major impact in Spain. Here the Sierra Boyera reservoir in the Cordoba province in Andalusia is one area being severely affected. At the beginning of March 2023, the reservoir was at only 1.3% of its total capacity, and a Copernicus Sentinel-2 image captured on 1 April 2023 showed that the reservoir was completely empty. This is having severe consequences on the local flora and fauna.

 

Credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-3 imagery captured on 1st April 2023 shows the Sierra Boyera reservoir in the Cordoba province of Andalusia completely empty.
European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-3 imagery captured on 1 April 2023 shows the Sierra Boyera reservoir in the Cordoba province of Andalusia completely empty

 

Both February and March 2023 were very dry months for much of Spain. According to AEMet (Spanish Meteorological Agency) mainland Spain recorded around a third of the average monthly rainfall during both of the months. The very dry conditions have also continued into April.

During February 2023, mainland Spain recorded just 33% of the average monthly rainfall, making it the 9th driest February since the beginning of the series in 1961.

 

Credit: AEMet map showing rainfall totals for February 2023 compared with average.
AEMet map showing rainfall totals for February 2023 compared with average

 

Mainland Spain then recorded just 36% of the normal average rainfall in March 2023. Making it the 6th driest March for Spain since the start of the rainfall series in 1961.

 

Credit: AEMet map showing rainfall totals for March 2023 compared with average.
AEMet map showing rainfall totals for March 2023 compared with average

 

Although January did see abundant rainfall, according to AEMet, since the beginning of the year rainfall for Spain is only around 50% of the normal average, for the period January to mid-April.

 

AEMet map showing rainfall totals for period 1st January to 18th April 2023 compared with average.
AEMet map showing rainfall totals for period 1 January to 18 April 2023 compared with average

 

The fact that March and much of April 2023 were such dry months exacerbated the drought conditions already affecting parts of Spain. According to the European Drought Observatory, southern and north-eastern Spain are some of the areas most affected by persistent drought and water scarcity. In these parts of Spain some of the reservoirs are much lower than would be expected for the time of year.

Andalusia is one region most affected by drought, particularly the area of the Guadalquivir River Basin. According to Copernicus, consecutive years of low rainfall and high temperatures have led to the reservoirs in the basin currently being at a low capacity of just 25.5%, which is 36.5% below the average of the last 25 years. This is having a significant impact on the agricultural industry and biodiversity in the area.

The Copernicus Sentinel-2 images below show how agriculture in the area has suffered significant damage due to the dry conditions. The impact of the drought has also extended to the Doñana National Park and image below for April 2023 shows that the permanent water bodies in the park appear dry, which poses a threat to the survival of the wildlife that relies on these water sources.

 

European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery. These images were taken on 16th April 2022 and 11th April 2023. The image taken in 2023 shows the striking absence of vegetation. The permanent water bodies in the Doñana National Park also appear dry in the April 2023 image, and this poses a threat to the survival of the wildfire that relies on these water sources.
European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery. These images were taken on 16 April 2022 and 11 April 2023. The image taken in 2023 shows the striking absence of vegetation. The permanent water bodies in the Doñana National Park also appear dry in the April 2023 image, and this poses a threat to the survival of the wildlife that relies on these water sources.

 

According to AEMet April 2023 was the warmest and driest April since 1961 for Andalusia. Average temperatures were almost 4 °C above average.

 

 

It was reported in March 2023 that water restrictions due to the lack of rain were put in place in Barcelona and the northeast region of Catalonia. The measures included banning the use of drinking water to wash the exterior of houses and cars as well as filling swimming pools. There are also measures in place to reduce the amount of water used for irrigation.

Despite it being early in the season, wildfires were also reported in parts of northern Spain.

 

European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery taken on 30th March 2023 showing smoke clouds generated by fires southeast of Gijón
European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery taken on 30 March 2023 showing smoke clouds generated by fires southeast of Gijón

 

NASA’s Terra satellite shows where green vegetation in May 2022 (left) turned brown by May 2023 (right). The drought dried up reservoirs, parched olive groves, and led to water restrictions.
NASA’s Terra satellite shows where green vegetation in May 2022 (left) turned brown by May 2023 (right). The drought dried up reservoirs, parched olive groves, and led to water restrictions.

 

France

France is another region in Europe where drought conditions and wildfires have had a major impact. According to the French Meteorological Agency Meteo France, rain did not fall in France for 32 consecutive days at the start of 2023, from 21 January to 21 February inclusive. This is the longest period of dry weather for France (defined by the total accumulated rainfall across France being less than 1mm) since records began in 1959.

 

 

March and April 2023 did see much more in the way of rain. According to Meteo France there was 1.4 times the normal average monthly rainfall during March. However, despite the rainfall that has fallen in recently months, there are some regions of France that are still in severe deficit of rainfall.

 

Meteo France map showing whether the rainfall totals for France during the period September 2022 and March 2023 were above or below average
Meteo France map showing whether the rainfall totals for France during the period September 2022 and March 2023 were above or below average

 

One region of France severely impacted by drought conditions and wildfires is the Pyrénées-Orientales. Meteo France reported on 18 April 2023 that one of the stations in this region, Cap Béar, recorded just 230mm of rain in the past year —  barely 36% of the annual average rainfall for this station, which is 626.2mm.

 

 

The French Pyrénées-Orientales department, which borders Spain’s Catalonia autonomous region, was officially declared to be in drought ‘crisis’ level, which means bans on washing cars, watering gardens and filling pools. This first set of water restrictions was put in place in an effort to conserve water resources and prioritises drinking water above other usages. The image below was taken by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite on the 2nd of May and shows Perpignan, one of the most affected cities.

 

European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery taken on 2 May 2023
European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery taken on 2 May 2023

 

Wildfires also affected this region. On 16 April 2023 a wildfire broke out in the hills between Cerbère and Banyuls-sur-Mer in the Pyrénées-Orientales region of France and crossed the Spanish border. The fire spread quickly fuelled by dry vegetation and strong winds and burnt over 930 hectares of land, the equivalent of 2,000 football fields. Wildfires like this radically change the landscape and can leave a noticeable mark on the land referred to as a "burn scar". The burn scar left by the wildfire in the Pyrénées-Orientales region of France can be seen in the image below which was captured from space.

 

European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery taken on 17 April 2023 showing the burn scar from the wildfire that broke out on 16 April 2023 in the hills between Cerbère and Banyuls-sur-Mer in the Pyrénées-Orientales region of France and crossed the Spanish border
European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery taken on 17 April 2023 showing the burn scar from the wildfire that broke out on 16 April 2023 in the hills between Cerbère and Banyuls-sur-Mer in the Pyrénées-Orientales region of France and crossed the Spanish border

 

France saw a very early start to the wildfire season in 2023 with unseasonal wildfires affecting several areas of France in February and March. Copernicus reported that as of 16 April, the cumulative area burnt by wildfires in France for 2023 so far was well over three times the 2006-2022 average.

 

 

End of April heatwave for Iberia

At the end of April, a spell of extreme heat impacted Iberia, during which mainland Spain and Portugal recorded temperatures that are usually seen in July and August, breaking temperature records. In Spain, Cordoba Airport in Andalusia, recorded a maximum temperature of 38.8C on Thursday 27 April, which is the highest April temperature on record for mainland Spain. As well as Spain and Portugal, the heatwave also impacted parts of Morocco and Algeria and temperatures for many were up to 20 degrees above average for the time of year.

 

 

The extreme heat at the end of April 2023 exacerbated the ongoing drought in Spain, which led to several salt lakes in the south of the country drying up. These salt lakes are important as they are habitats for migratory birds such as flamingos. The image below was taken by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite on 26 April 2023, and shows that the famous Andalusian lake Fuente de Piedra, a favourite stopover for flamingos, is completely dry.

 

European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery taken on 26 April 2023 shows that Fuente de Piedra, a famous lake in Andalusia, is completely dry
European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery taken on 26 April 2023 shows that Fuente de Piedra, a famous lake in Andalusia, is completely dry

 

 

Extreme heat almost impossible without climate change

An attribution study issued by World Weather Attribution just eight days after the peak of the heatwave, showed that the extreme heat experienced in Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Algeria at the end of April 2023 was almost impossible without human-caused climate change. Scientists from Morocco, France, the Netherlands, the UK and the US collaborated to assess the extent to which human-induced climate change altered the likelihood and intensity of this early season heatwave. The study showed that the heatwave at the end of April was made 3.5 °C hotter and at least 100 times more likely by human-caused climate change.

 

 

Europe has been warming faster than any other continent in recent decades, with temperatures increasing at twice the global average rate. This means that water scarcity and droughts are a growing threat for many parts of Europe. According to the European state of the climate report for 2022 that was issued in April 2023 by Copernicus, 2022 was the second warmest year on record for Europe. But the summer of 2022 was the warmest on record for Europe, with many countries affected by extreme heatwaves. The highest temperatures in western Europe were around 10 °C higher than typical summer maximum temperatures.

 

Warming stripes showing the rapid warming of the average temperatures for Europe over the last few decades
These warming stripes were created by Professor Ed Hawkins of the University of Reading. They show the rapid warming of the average temperatures for Europe over the last few decades. The coloured lines show the average temperature for Europe compared to average for each year from 1850 to 2023. The blue lines indicate when the temperatures were below average and the red lines when the temperatures were above average.

 

We know that climate change is making extreme weather events such as drought and heatwaves more frequent, intense and prolonged, and unfortunately we are already seeing the impacts of these severe weather events in Europe and elsewhere around the world.

 

About the Author

Gemma Plumb

Gemma Plumb has been a meteorologist for over 15 years and is currently working for DTN as a media meteorologist at the BBC. She has also forecast for a variety of sectors including energy, media, transport and utilities.

Gemma is one of the creators and hosts of the weather podcast For the Love of Weather, which looks at the science behind weather and climate and how weather can impact our daily lives.

A keen science communicator, she is passionate about sharing her love of the weather. You can find Gemma on TikTok making funny, engaging and educational weather-related videos (@theweatherpud).

Categories: Climate In the Spotlight Weather
Tags: Climate Climate Change Extreme Weather Heatwaves News Weather WorldWeather

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