Europe is facing a very serious problem this summer. The weather is extremely hot, and there is very little rain. This is called a drought. Because of the climate crisis, the air is very hot and "thirsty." It pulls water away from rivers, lakes, and the ground. This makes the land very dry.
Scientists say the hot weather is much more common now because of global warming. In western Europe, this extreme heat is 80 times more likely than before. In eastern Europe, it is 40 times more likely. The Rhine river in the Netherlands is now very low. It is even lower than it was in the hot summer of 1976.
The drought is hurting farmers and food production. Experts think Europe will lose about 9 million tonnes of grain. In France, the corn harvest will be the worst in 50 years. Farmers do not have enough water for their crops.
In the United Kingdom, many people cannot use water for their gardens. In England and Wales, more than 20 million people have a "hosepipe ban." This means they cannot use a hose to wash cars or water plants. In Wales, it might become the driest July in 190 years if it does not rain soon.
The dry weather is also bad for nature. Rivers are low and the water is very warm. This is killing fish and other animals. The dry plants also make it easier for dangerous wildfires to start.