Overview

• Copernicus satellite data show 52% of soils across Europe and the Mediterranean were in drought from July 1–10, up 21 points above the 2012–2024 average and just below late June’s 55.5% record.
• Kosovo, Serbia and Bulgaria report nearly 100% of soils affected with over one-third at alert level, leading to mid-July water cuts that impacted more than 156,000 people in Bulgaria.
• Armenia is seeing drought on 95% of its land while Turkey’s 77% soil deficit, combined with strong winds, has fueled hundreds of wildfires since early July.
• The United Nations warns that drought in Syria now threatens half the country’s farmland, jeopardizing this year’s wheat harvest and the food security of over 16 million people.
• Western Europe faces rising alerts with 18% of UK soils and 12% of French territory in warning status, contrasted by low drought rates of 6% in Spain and 1% in Portugal.