Europe is facing a drought this year comparable to the summer of 2022, and rains in the coming weeks will be crucial in determining the impact of the unusually warm and dry winter that ended, the Joint Research Center (JRC) warned in a report on Monday) of the European Commission

General drought conditions are already observed in Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Great Britain, Northern Italy, Switzerland, most of the Mediterranean islands and the Black Sea regions of Romania and Bulgaria, the document says, according to the EFE agency, quoted by Agerpres.

The report also warns that almost all of southern and western Europe has been affected by significant soil moisture anomalies and reduced river runoff following a particularly warm and dry winter.

“Seasonal projections show a warmer-than-average spring in Europe, while precipitation projections are characterized by increased uncertainty and spatial variability. Careful monitoring and adequate water use plans will be needed to manage a season that currently portends the risk of critical water resources,” the same report also stated.

The lack of precipitation is already causing concern in sectors such as water supply, agriculture and energy production, and river flows in the peri-alpine region have begun to decline even with the arrival of spring due to a significant reduction in water. flow formed by thawing.

On the other hand, “early season crops and vegetation are not affected so far, but the situation may become critical in the coming months if temperature and precipitation anomalies persist in the spring,” the JRC report stressed.