EnvironmentEurope
Walloon Provinces Impose Drought Orders to Curb Fire Risk
Four Walloon provinces issued drought orders restricting fires and smoking in forests until 1 October, as dry, windy weather raises wildfire risk.
—4 min read
Tag
#Drought
54 articles
EnvironmentEurope
Belgium Faces Worst Drought Since the 1970s
Belgium heads toward its worst drought since the 1970s, straining Brussels drinking water as Vivaqua cuts output from the Meuse river.
—5 min read
Environment
Flemish Waterways Hit Record Temperatures This Summer
Flemish rivers and canals hit record July water temperatures, threatening aquatic life and risking cooling water discharge bans for industry.
—5 min read
AgricultureBusiness
AB InBev Donates 30,000 Liters of Water to Flower Grower
Beer giant AB InBev donates 30,000 liters of purified water to Belgian flower grower Michaël Vanhulst as severe drought threatens his harvest.
—4 min read
Weather and Climate
Belgium Enters Third Heatwave; Bus Strike, Drought Follow
Belgium enters its third national heatwave with record temperatures, triggering a TEC bus strike in Hainaut and safety adjustments across the country.
—5 min read
Tourism
Antwerp Guide Shortage as Drought Reroutes Cruise Ships
Antwerp faces a city guide shortage as drought on the Rhine and Danube reroutes record cruise ships to the Schelde, straining tourism capacity.
—5 min read
DomesticInfrastructure
Puerto Rico Water Crisis: 10 Families, One Condo, No Water
Puerto Rico's water crisis: 10 families in one San Juan condo building face daily water scarcity amid drought, aging infrastructure, and rationing.
—6 min read
Environment
Belgium Hits Record 62 Swimming Bans From Blue-Green Algae
Belgium has imposed 62 temporary swimming bans this summer due to blue-green algae, surpassing last year's record. Drought and heat fuel the crisis.
—5 min read
Weather
Belgium Heatwave: Code Orange as Temperatures Hit 35°C
Belgium faces fourth heatwave of summer with code orange warnings, 35°C temperatures, drought impacts on waterways, and record North Sea marine heatwave.
—5 min read
Local News
Liège Cancels August 15 Fireworks Over Fire Risk
Liège cancels its August 15 fireworks display due to elevated fire risk from drought, following Huy's lead. The tir de campes is maintained.
—5 min read
Weather & Climate
Belgium Braces for Extreme Drought as Heat Persists
Belgium prepares for extreme drought as temperatures rise and no rain is forecast. Water restrictions and climate concerns grow across the country.
—7 min read
Climate & Environment
Van Ypersele: Climate Prevention Costs Less Than Cure
Belgian climatologist Jean-Pascal van Ypersele argues prevention is cheaper than cure as Belgium faces record heatwave deaths and severe drought.
—6 min read
Climate & Environment
Why Belgian Tap Water Isn't Cold Anymore: Climate Impact
Belgians are finding their cold tap water isn't cold during record heatwaves. Experts explain the causes, health risks, and what to do.
—5 min read
Environment
Lake Mead Hits Historic Low as Colorado River Crisis Deepens
Lake Mead hits its lowest water level on record as the Colorado River faces unprecedented drought, threatening 40 million people in the Southwest.
—6 min read
Weather & Environment
Belgium's Drought Crisis Deepens Amid Severe Heatwave
Belgium faces severe drought: trees losing leaves, Christmas tree losses up to 100%, meadow fires, warm tap water, and no new Walloon measures.
—6 min read
Environment
Lake Mead Hits Historic Low as Colorado River Crisis Deepens
Lake Mead, the largest U.S. reservoir, has dropped to its lowest level since the 1930s, threatening water supplies for millions across the Southwest.
—7 min read
Environment
Puerto Rico Rations Water for 48 Hours Amid Severe Drought
Puerto Rico begins 48-hour water rationing for 180,000 customers as the territory faces its worst drought in over a century.
—6 min read
EnvironmentEurope
Netherlands Closes All Rotterdam Locks in Historic Drought
Severe drought forces Netherlands to close all Rotterdam locks and ban surface water extraction for the first time, threatening dikes and farms.
—6 min read
Weather
Belgium's July 2026: Hot, Sunny, Extremely Dry
Belgium's July 2026 was the second driest on record with near-record sunshine. The IRM climate report raises questions about a record-breaking summer.
—5 min read
ImmigrationPolitics
Border Wall Contractors Ordered to Stop Drilling Wells
Trump administration orders border wall contractors to stop drilling wells in drought-stricken New Mexico after ranchers warn about water threats.
—6 min read
Environment
Belgian spring stream dries up, rare fish species lost
The Molenbeek-Graadbeek stream in Meldert, Belgium has completely dried up due to drought, wiping out years of rare fish species recovery work.
—4 min read
Weather
Belgium Confirms Second National Heatwave of 2026
Belgium's second national heatwave of 2026 is officially confirmed as temperatures hit 30.1°C in Ukkel, with thunderstorms expected as the heat breaks.
—4 min read
Environment
Natuurpunt warns after candles found in Kiewit forest game
Natuurpunt warns after discovering a forest game with candles in Kiewit nature reserve amid record wildfire season and code orange fire danger in Belgium.
—4 min read
Environment
Why the Schelde Escapes Europe's Extreme River Drought
While the Rhine and Danube hit record lows, Belgium's Schelde river remains resilient. A hydrologist explains the tidal and geographic reasons why.
—4 min read
ImmigrationEnvironment
Border Wall Well Drilling Halted in Drought-Stricken NM
CBP orders border wall contractors to stop drilling wells in drought-stricken New Mexico after ranchers warn of water threats.
—6 min read
WeatherClimate
Belgium Heatwave: Code Orange, Drought Crisis
Belgium faces code orange heat warning with temperatures to 36°C as drought cripples agriculture and threatens water supplies across Europe.
—6 min read
EnvironmentClimate
Wallonia Drought Deepens: Water Levels Below 2020 Records
Wallonia's drought crisis intensifies as river levels fall below unprecedented 2020 thresholds. Water restrictions remain despite expected rainfall.
—5 min read
Local NewsEnvironment
Genk Fire Destroys 3 Hectares, Homes Narrowly Spared
A fire at Termien in Genk destroyed 3 hectares of heathland, coming within 30 meters of homes before firefighters contained it amid severe drought.
—4 min read
EnvironmentClimate
Belgium Water Scarcity Grows After Driest July on Record
Belgium records one of its driest Julys ever as Wallonia keeps water restrictions and experts ask whether the Blue Deal programme is enough.
—4 min read
EnvironmentUnited States
Oregon Faces Worst Wildfire Season as 1.6 Million Acres Burn
Oregon has burned over 1.6 million acres in 2026 as drought, low snowpack, and lightning storms fuel unprecedented wildfires.
—6 min read
WeatherDisaster
Belgium Scorches at 35°C as Wildfire Rages in Tielt-Winge
Belgium experiences its hottest day at 35°C while a youth-started wildfire in Tielt-Winge highlights extreme fire danger amid severe drought conditions.
—5 min read
EnvironmentAccident
Two Hectares of Genk Nature Reserve Destroyed by Wildfire
A wildfire has destroyed two hectares of heathland in Genk's Schemmersberg nature reserve. Firefighters contained the blaze amid severe drought.
—3 min read
Weather & EnvironmentEurope
Europe Heatwave Disaster: Wildfires, Drought Grip Continent
Europe faces a climate emergency as wildfires force over 200,000 evacuations and drought linked to climate change devastates rivers and crops.
—6 min read
Environment
Drought Worsens in Wallonia as Water Restrictions Expand
Wallonia maintains water restrictions as drought worsens, with 7 municipalities affected and the Nisramont dam under reinforced vigilance.
—4 min read
EnvironmentClimate
Extreme Drought to Engulf All of Belgium Within Ten Days
Belgium faces extreme drought within 10 days as climate change makes soil drought 11 times more likely, threatening agriculture and water supplies.
—4 min read
EnvironmentEurope
Sambre River Turns Fluorescent Green Amid Severe Drought
The Sambre River in Namur has turned fluorescent green due to algae and potentially toxic cyanobacteria, as Wallonia faces its driest July on record.
—5 min read
TravelSociety
Belgium's Summer Surge: Record Airport Crowds and Rescues
Brussels Airport sees 92,000 passengers on its busiest day, three boys rescued from drowning in Ostend, and fireworks canceled due to drought.
—4 min read
EnvironmentClimate
Flanders Wetland Plan Soaks 2B Liters into Soil Yearly
Natuurpunt's wetland plan channels 2 billion liters into Flemish soil annually, a nature-based solution as Flanders faces code orange drought.
—4 min read
SocietyEnvironment
Belgian Towns Cancel National Day Fireworks Amid Heatwave
Heatwave and drought force Belgian towns to cancel National Day fireworks. Provincial governors ban open fires across Hainaut, Namur, and East Flanders.
—4 min read
EnvironmentPolitics
Flanders Drought: Code Orange Declared as Crisis Deepens
Flanders escalates to drought code orange as severe water scarcity grips the region. Experts warn of cross-border tensions over shared rivers.
—4 min read
SocietyBelgium
Belgium's National Day: Fireworks Nixed, Drones and F-35s
Many Belgian towns cancel National Day fireworks due to drought, while the military parade debuts F-35 jets and drone displays.
—4 min read
Weather & EnvironmentHealth
Belgium Heatwave: 2,000 Deaths, Water Bans, Coastal Crisis
Belgium faces a triple crisis: record 2,000 heatwave deaths, expanding water bans in Antwerp, and 53 coastal rescues amid extreme weather.
—4 min read
EnvironmentWater Crisis
Colorado River Reservoirs Plummet to Unprecedented Low
Lake Powell and Lake Mead hit their lowest combined water levels since 1957, threatening water and power for 40 million people across the Southwest.
—5 min read
Environment
Belgium Declares Code Orange Drought Alert for Flanders
Flanders escalates to code orange drought alert as the Drought Committee declares a phase of effective water scarcity, targeting agriculture and shipping.
—4 min read
Disaster and Accident
Lanklaarderbos Wildfire Under Control as Arson Probe Begins
A wildfire in Belgium's Lanklaarderbos is under control. Prosecutors investigate possible arson as two simultaneous blazes hit drought-stricken Limburg.
—4 min read
EnvironmentEurope
Belgium Drought: Water Levels Near Critical Thresholds
Belgium's severe drought pushes water levels toward critical thresholds. Ypres tightens pumping bans as farmers risk fines and canals near danger.
—4 min read
EnvironmentDisasters
Wallonia Bans All Fires as Drought Sparks Forest Blaze
All five Walloon provinces ban open fires, fireworks, and campfires amid extreme drought. A pine forest in Namur has burned. 32 arrested in France.
—5 min read
U.S. Environment & Weather
Utah Wildfires Burn More Acres Than Past 5 Years Combined
Utah wildfires burned 357,173 acres by early July 2026, surpassing the previous five years combined. Two megafires strain resources amid drought.
—5 min read
Natural DisasterUnited States
Aspen Acres Fire Destroys 212 Structures, Thousands Evacuate
The Aspen Acres Fire southwest of Denver has burned 87,000 acres, destroyed 212 structures, and forced thousands to evacuate.
—5 min read
Environment
Antwerp Province Bans Water Pumping from Rivers Amid Drought
Antwerp Governor Cathy Berx imposes a temporary water extraction ban on the Kleine Nete, Aa, and Vrouwvliet rivers as drought levels drop to critical lows.
—3 min read
WildfiresEnvironment
Utah Wildfire Surges, Prompting Statewide Fireworks Ban
Utah's Cottonwood Fire becomes the largest active US blaze at 111 square miles. Gov. Cox bans fireworks statewide for July Fourth amid extreme drought.
—5 min read
DisasterWildfires
Heat, Wind and Drought Fuel Wildfires Across the US West
Extreme heat, drought and high winds fuel wildfires across the western US, forcing evacuations in Utah, Arizona, and Florida.
—4 min read
Environment & ClimatePolitics
Colorado River Crisis: States Brace for Cuts, Legal Fights
Seven states remain deadlocked over Colorado River water as drought worsens. The federal government is poised to impose cuts, with litigation likely.
—6 min read
Environment
Colorado River Basin Water Supplies in Peril, Experts Warn
Lake Mead and Lake Powell face record-low levels as drought and overuse threaten water supplies for 40 million people across the western United States.
—5 min read