France faces the worst drought in its history - over 1,300 watercourses are drying up
Kyiv • UNN
French rivers are experiencing the most critical drought in the entire observation period. 1,373 watercourses have been affected due to cessation of flow or complete drying up.
French rivers have faced the most critical drought on record. According to the French Biodiversity Agency, 1,373 watercourses have been affected due to cessation of flow or complete drying up amid prolonged heatwaves and a lack of precipitation. This is reported by Le Figaro, writes UNN.
"The latest data from the National Low Water Level Observatory (ONDE), collected by OFB staff, indicate an exceptional deterioration in the state of our rivers at the end of July,"
French rivers are suffering from a "historic" drought, which is "the most critical of all recorded during this period." This is stated in an assessment of the condition of small watercourses as of August 1, published on Monday by the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB).
"The latest measurements by the National Low Water Level Observatory (ONDE), conducted by OFB staff, have revealed an exceptional deterioration in the state of our rivers at the end of July," while "1,373 watercourses have been affected due to cessation of flow or complete drying up (+554 in a month)," i.e., when the riverbed completely dries up, the state agency reported in a press release.
The most critical situation in the entire history of observations
"With 43% of observation points affected, this is the most critical situation ever recorded during this period" in France, the OFB noted. It exceeds the historic drought of 2022 (+112 dried-up watercourses) and is twice as severe as in 2025.
This drought, which affects both water resource availability and biodiversity, has covered all regions of the country. The area most affected is along the axis from Vendée to the Grand Est region, as well as the central part of southern France.
This summer, France experienced three heatwaves, one of which has been ongoing since July 28, as well as an early period of abnormal heat in May. According to the French meteorological service Météo-France, soil drought "has worsened day by day since the beginning of June" due to an anticyclonic situation, a lack of significant precipitation, and extremely high temperatures.