Europe’s drought could be the worst in 500 years, warns researcher

The European Fee Joint Analysis Centre (EC-JRC) has warned that the present drought might be the worst in 500 years.

And it has predicted that extreme drought will worsen in Europe, doubtlessly reaching 47% of the continent.

The predictions had been introduced by senior researcher Andrea Toreti in a web-based information convention on Tuesday afternoon.

“We have not analysed absolutely the occasion (this yr’s drought), as a result of it’s nonetheless ongoing, however primarily based on my expertise I feel that that is maybe much more excessive than 2018,” he stated.

“Simply to offer you an thought the 2018 drought was so excessive that, wanting again at the least the final 500 years, there have been no different occasions much like the drought of 2018, however this yr I feel it’s actually worse than 2018.”

Based on Toreti, what’s inflicting concern is that “wanting on the subsequent three months, we see nonetheless a really excessive threat of dry situations over western and central Europe, in addition to the UK.”

Toreti stated that the areas affected by drought and lack of water will improve and that if efficient mitigation measures will not be taken “this depth and frequency will improve dramatically over Europe, each within the north and within the south.”

Italy — particularly the River Po — is among the many most affected in addition to southern France and huge areas of Spain and Portugal.

“Our evaluation certainly is pointing to extraordinarily low flows affecting nearly all of the European rivers,” stated Toreti. “The Rhine river, as an illustration, that’s inflicting large troubles as an illustration within the Netherlands.”

France is within the midst of its fourth warmth wave of the yr: the federal government says hovering temperatures and lack of rain are inflicting its worst drought on document. Meteo France says the warmth wave which started within the south is anticipated to unfold throughout the nation and final till the weekend. 

Even within the UK, which isn’t recognized for its sizzling summers, a four-day excessive warmth warning of greater than 35 C has been issued as soon as once more for southern and central England, beginning on Thursday night. With some reservoirs recording low water ranges, hosepipe bans are being prolonged throughout the nation and Wales.