Drought in Europe March 2023

a GDO analytical report

- Most of southern and western Europe is affected by substantial anomalies of soil moisture and river flow due to an exceptionally dry and warm winter.
- The snow water equivalent in the Alps is far below the historical average, and is even lower than that for the 2021-2022 winter. This will lead to severe reduction of snowmelt contribution to river flows in the perialpine region during spring and the early summer 2023.
- Impacts of the emerging drought are already visible in France, Spain, and northern Italy and raise concerns on water supply for human use, agriculture, and energy production.
- Seasonal forecasts show a warmer than average spring over Europe, while precipitation forecasts are characterized by higher spatial variability and uncertainty. Close monitoring and proper water use plans are required to deal with a season that currently has a high risk of being critical for water resources.

TORETI Andrea ; BAVERA Davide; ACOSTA NAVARRO Juan; ARIAS-MUÑOZ Carolina; AVANZI Francesco ; MARINHO FERREIRA BARBOSA Paulo ; DE JAGER Alfred; DI CIOLLO Chiara; FERRARIS Luca; FIORAVANTI Guido; GABELLANI Simone; GRIMALDI Stefania ; HRAST ESSENFELDER Arthur ; ISABELLON Michel ; JONAS Tobias; MAETENS Willem ; MAGNI Diego; MASANTE Dario; MAZZESCHI Marco; MCCORMICK Niall; MERONI Michele ; ROSSI Lauro ; SALAMON Peter ; SPINONI Jonathan

2023-03-16

Publications Office of the European Union

JRC133025

978-92-68-01068-6 (online)

1831-9424 (online)

EUR 31448 EN , OP KJ-NA-31-448-EN-N (online)