Copernicus records the lowest spring river flow in Europe since records began

Environment Editorial, July 4 (EFE).- Between March and May 2025, Europe recorded its lowest spring river flow since records began in 1992, mainly due to the drought conditions that affected much of the northern part of the continent in recent months, according to the European service Copernicus on Friday.

According to the report, last spring saw drier-than-average conditions across much of northern and western Europe, while conditions in the southern continent and northwestern Russia were wetter than average.

He explained that these persistent dry conditions have led to the lowest spring river flow in all of Europe since records began.

The driest signs were recorded in parts of England and Scotland, coastal Belgium and the Netherlands, northern and southern Germany, northwestern Poland, much of Denmark, and parts of southern Norway and Sweden, as well as a small region of France.

The German Meteorological Service (DWD) reported that this spring was one of the three driest in the country since 1881.

And the British Meteorological Office (Met Office) announced in mid-May, before the arrival of wet weather slightly dropped the ranking to sixth place, that the United Kingdom was experiencing its driest spring in more than 100 years.

"These dry conditions significantly affected river flow across the continent," Copernicus said.

Below average

According to data from the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) dating back to 1992, river flow in spring 2025 was below the 1992-2020 average and significantly below average in 77.4% and 55.6% of the European river network, respectively.

For Europe as a whole, the 2025 spring river flow was the lowest on record for this season.

Copernicus noted that these conditions have negative impacts on agriculture, water management, hydroelectric power generation, river transport, and ecosystems, among other sectors.