France Faces Historic Drought: Rivers at Most Critical State Ever Recorded

France is grappling with a "historic" drought, described as the most critical situation ever recorded for this time of year concerning its small watercourses. The French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) reported on August 1 that 1,373 watercourses are experiencing flow interruptions or have dried up entirely, a significant increase of 554 such cases in just one month.

This alarming situation surpasses the severe drought experienced in 2022 and is twice as bad as in 2025. With 43% of monitoring stations affected, the OFB stated it is the "most critical situation ever recorded at this period." The drought is not only affecting water availability but also severely impacting biodiversity.

The dry conditions are widespread, affecting all regions of France. However, the impact is particularly pronounced along an axis stretching from Vendée in the west to Grand Est in the northeast, as well as in the south-central parts of the country.

This extreme dryness is attributed to a combination of factors. France has endured three heatwaves this summer, with another ongoing since July 28, preceded by an early heatwave in May. Météo-France noted that soil dryness has worsened daily since early June due to a persistent anticyclonic situation, a lack of significant rainfall, and exceptionally high temperatures.