Hydrologist Blöschl: Austria on the brink of an exceptional situation due to drought

Data from the monthly report

The current data comes from the monthly report "Water Balance Austria." According to it, precipitation over the past four to five months was around 30 percent below the long-term average. At the groundwater monitoring stations, around 80 percent show low or very low levels. At around 85 percent of the monitoring stations, river levels at the end of June were below the long-term monthly average.

It is particularly dry in large parts of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Burgenland, and eastern Styria. The situation is somewhat better at the moment in Tyrol and East Tyrol as far as river levels are concerned. Recently, however, the drought has also spread to other parts of the country – such as Vorarlberg, said Blöschl.

Affected regions and lakes

The water scarcity is also evident in the large lakes. For instance, Lake Neusiedl is currently measuring a water level around 25 centimeters below the long-term average. In addition, the level of Lake Constance recently fell to its historic low since records began in 1850.

In the groundwater situation, regional differences emerge: levels in large reservoirs, such as in the southern Vienna Basin, are declining more slowly than, for example, in the Flysch zone at the northern edge of the Alps in Upper Austria, among other areas. The cooler months are particularly crucial for groundwater recharge. "If it rains more in winter in the future, we won't have a problem with groundwater recharge," said Blöschl. However, global climate models make it difficult to assess for Austria whether the trend will be toward more winter or summer precipitation.

Flood risk and evaporation

Blöschl also sees further effects of climate change on the water balance. For example, there is "the increasing flood risk demonstrably documented by data in Austria due to the increase in rainfall amounts when heavy precipitation events occur." Evaporation has also clearly increased, which further exacerbates the drought.

Research project and political perception

At the Ministry of Agriculture, which has entrusted Blöschl with the lead management of the research project "Water in Climate Change," the topic is "absolutely on the radar," the researcher said. "It's slowly reaching the public," said Blöschl with regard to the public's awareness of the problem.

By autumn, the TU Wien researcher is working together with Geosphere Austria, the University of Graz, and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Boku) Vienna on the final report of the large-scale project "Water in Climate Change," the final results of which are to be presented in November.

The developments of the coming months are considered decisive. Experts emphasize that precipitation in the cooler months in particular will determine whether the situation eases or worsens further. Until then, according to Blöschl's assessment, the drought remains one of the greatest challenges for agriculture, water supply, and ecosystems in Austria. (APA, 7/15/2026)