August was the driest in Europe and the Mediterranean since 2012

August was the driest month in Europe and the Mediterranean since the European Drought Observatory (EDO) began recording this data in 2012.

According to an analysis of EDO data by Agence France-Presse and released this Thursday, more than half (53%) of the soil was affected by drought in August.

The value represents a huge increase compared to the same month in 2024, when 36% of the soils were affected by drought, and is 23 percentage points above the average for August between 2012 and 2024 (30.1%).

Since the beginning of the year, each month has set a new record for that time of year , but August 2025 also set an all-time high. The previous record, of 52%, was set last May.

There are several types of drought, which can occur in combination: meteorological drought, soil drought and hydrological drought (in rivers and groundwater).

The drought indicator from EDO, an observatory of the European Copernicus programme, based on satellite observations, combines precipitation levels, soil moisture and vegetation conditions.

Western Europe was severely affected. In Portugal, the figure was significantly higher than the 5% recorded in July.

In France, hit in August by the second heat wave of this summer, two-thirds of the territory (66%) was experiencing water shortages. A portion of the country (12%) was experiencing drought, particularly in the southwest, with significant consequences for wine production.

But the Eastern Mediterranean was the region most affected by the drought. Armenia, Georgia, and Lebanon saw almost all of their territories affected —99%, 97%, and 96%, respectively.

Turkey, with 84% of its territory suffering from water shortages, has faced numerous fires , such as those that occurred in the province of Çanakkale (northwest) in early August.

In Eastern Europe and the Balkans, several countries were also severely affected by drought. In Bulgaria, Kosovo, Serbia, and North Macedonia, the drought rate was greater than or equal to 90%.

The situation fueled wildfires in the Balkans, which killed at least two people and led to the displacement of thousands of residents.