Drought conditions have intensified across Central and Western Europe since the start of summer, and new satellite imagery shows the visible toll on some of the continent’s most important rivers. Roughly half of Europe’s land area is now experiencing drought, with 9 percent at alert level, according to the Global Drought Observatory.
The Combined Drought Indicator for mid-July places southern Germany, Hungary, Romania, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the alert category. On Wednesday, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre reported that the Loire, Po, Rhine and Danube rivers had sunk to record-low levels after continued hotter and drier conditions.
Al Jazeera’s Open Source Unit examined satellite imagery that shows retreating water in major rivers, declining soil moisture and the yellowing of green spaces in several cities. A time-series comparison of the Loire River near the French city of Saumur reveals a clear shift in the river channel’s shape between August 2023 and August 2026. In earlier images, larger portions of the channel appear covered by water, while later comparisons show wider islands and expanded sandy and gravelly areas. An image captured on August 8 this year displays substantially larger exposed zones within the channel compared with previous years, coinciding with surrounding agricultural areas that have turned brown and pale.
Near Moissac in southwestern France, satellite images from May 21 to August 1 show a considerable change in the color of farmland and vegetation around the Garonne River. The May image is dominated by shades of green, while the August image shows larger stretches in brown and pale tones. These conditions have unfolded during documented hydrological stress in the Garonne basin. In early July, the Garonne River management authority launched an early operation to support river levels, describing it as the earliest such intervention since the system began in 1993, after flows near Toulouse approached record lows for that time of year.
In Germany, comparisons of satellite images taken near Kaub show an expansion of exposed sandy and gravelly areas within the Rhine River channel from May 1 to July 29. The May image shows a channel filled with water, while the late July image reveals larger exposed areas both in the river and along its banks, alongside a clear shift in the color of surrounding vegetation and fields. Rhine water levels in Germany have reached record lows, disrupting shipping. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that falling water levels had reached unprecedented levels and brought shipping traffic to a halt at a bottleneck on the river, with some vessels becoming stranded. Earlier, Germany’s inland waterway transport sector warned that the severe decline near Kaub could make commercial and tourist navigation impossible on parts of the river. Recent data also showed vessels operating with much lighter loads than usual because of reduced available draft.
In Italy, images of the Po River near Boretto in the Emilia-Romagna region show changes in water extent and exposed areas between August 2023 and August 2026. The 2023 image shows a larger water-covered area in parts of the channel, while the 2026 image shows sandy and gravelly areas. This aligns with the Joint Research Centre’s finding that the Po basin is experiencing severe hydrological stress, with parts of Italy facing pressure on water use for irrigation and energy production.
The Danube has also seen declines along several sections in Hungary and Romania. The Joint Research Centre said reduced Danube flows are putting pressure on navigation, water supplies, agricultural activity and the energy sector. Satellite imagery shows a noticeable drop in water levels from August 9, 2025, to August 9, 2026.
In England, satellite images captured visible changes across large areas of London, including Hyde Park, and the area around Stonehenge, where vegetation vitality has declined significantly. England recorded just 6.5mm (a quarter of an inch) of rainfall in July, equivalent to 10 percent of the long-term average, making it the driest July since records began in 1836. On Tuesday, the United Kingdom’s Environment Agency announced that 71.3 percent of England was officially in drought, including all areas of Greater London, while reservoir storage had fallen to 69 percent. Satellite images of Hyde Park taken in July 2025 and July 2026 show the scale of the severe drought.
The environmental impact has also extended to green spaces in other major cities. Satellite images of parks in Vienna, Austria, show changes in grass color and water availability as well as the effects of extreme heat. High-resolution imagery from SkySat shows a striking visual change in vegetation vitality at Auer-Welsbach Park between the summers of 2025 and 2026. In an image captured on July 22, 2025, the park appears with dark-green grassy areas and lush tree cover. By contrast, an image from July 28, 2026, shows extensive yellowing and a severe decline in greenery, with most open grassy areas turning brown and pale.
This visual decline documents the arrival of water and heat stress at the heart of European cities, where extreme temperatures and a lack of rainfall have dried out soil and deteriorated public green spaces in Britain, Austria and other parts of Central Europe. European monitoring centres expect dry conditions to continue through September.
