Drought has become a regular compound extreme event affecting Europe. This drought has been going since mid-April. An extreme marine heat wave affecting the Mediterranean Sea is no doubt a contributing factor. The Mediterranean is on fire. A buoy off the coast of Majorca has measured a sea surface temperature of 31ºC in JUNE, the average AUGUST temperature is 26ºC. Temperatures range from 3-7ºC above average across the basin. This marine heatwave is setting new records for what's possible.
The near-term future for Europe is grim. A strong high pulled scorching Iberian air into France: 39°C in Zaragoza, 38°C Toulouse, 37°C Paris & Lyon. Dry skies, stagnant air trap heat. A textbook Mediterranean heatwave — amplified by Climate Change, raising risks of droughts, wildfires & health stress. This is what scientists were predicting for 2050 not 2025.
By early January 2025 the Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) shows warning drought conditions in southern Italy, eastern Baltic Sea region, eastern Poland, Greece, Turkey, part of the Balkans, Belarus, central-eastern Ukraine, southern and western Russia, Cyprus, Malta and other Mediterranean islands, as well as Ireland and the UK.
I'm glad we let our vines grow deep roots for the first few years. They seem to be doing great this year so far.
Happy 4th of July!
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