Czech Republic faces historic drought as river flows drop sharply

The Czech Republic is facing severe hydrological drought, with precipitation levels down roughly 34 percent compared to long-term averages, marking one of the driest periods recorded since 1961. According to hydrologists and data from the InterSucho monitoring platform, soil moisture deficits have persisted across nearly 30 percent of national territory since early 2024, hitting southern Moravia and central regions hardest.

Water flows across major river basins have fallen significantly below normal levels, leaving several smaller tributaries dry. Water management authority Povodí Vltavy noted that conditions previously projected for 2050 are already unfolding, contributing to rapid declines in key reservoirs like Orlík. While the Czech government has allocated four billion korunas (€160 million) to drought mitigation and initiated reservoir development legislation, environmental researchers emphasize that reservoir construction alone cannot resolve hydrological deficits without comprehensive agricultural adaptation and landscape water retention.

Sources: Český rozhlas Plus, Deník N, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Seznam Zprávy.