Drought is significantly impacting water levels in many of Earth’s major rivers as of mid-2025, driven by persistent dry conditions, reduced precipitation, and climate change. Below is an overview of how drought is affecting key river systems across different regions, based on the most recent data available.
South America: Amazon Basin
In the Brazilian Amazon, severe drought conditions from 2023-2024, exacerbated by climate change, deforestation, and the El Niño pattern, have led to record-low water levels in rivers like the Solimões. As of October 2024, the Solimões near Tabatinga, Brazil, fell to 254 centimeters below the gauge's zero mark, marking a historic low. Other Amazonian rivers and lakes, including near Porto Velho, Manacapuru, and Lake Tefe, also reported unusually low levels due to insufficient rainfall over the past two years. The outlook for 2025 remains uncertain, with a below-average rainy season reported as of January 2025, suggesting that river levels may not recover fully and could face further stress from potential wildfires[1][2][3][4].
North America: Western United States and Northwest Territories
In the western United States, persistent snow drought and rapid spring snowmelt in 2025 have reduced water supplies, particularly affecting the Colorado River Basin. Lake Powell and Lake Mead, critical reservoirs fed by the Colorado River, are at 34% and 31% of capacity, respectively, with forecasts predicting inflows into Lake Powell at just 45% of average for April-July 2025. This indicates sustained low water levels in the Colorado River system, posing challenges for water supply, agriculture, and wildfire risk[5]. In Canada’s Northwest Territories, extreme drought since 2022 has resulted in water levels well below average in major rivers and lakes like the Mackenzie River, Great Slave Lake, Slave River, Liard River, and Hay River as of June 2025. While some smaller rivers show recovery, the overall low levels are linked to reduced precipitation in upstream regions like northern Alberta and British Columbia, with no immediate relief forecasted[6][7].
Asia: Yangtze, Ganga, and Brahmaputra Basins
In China, the Yangtze River Basin has faced significant drought since late 2024, with insufficient rainfall affecting provinces like Jiangxi, where over 66.7% of counties reported severe drought by January 2025. This has led to lower-than-normal water levels and heightened wildfire risk, with forecasts for the upcoming flood season suggesting continued stress alongside potential flooding[8]. In South Asia, the Ganga and Brahmaputra basins in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region recorded their lowest snow persistence in 23 years in 2025, at 24.1% and 27.9% below normal, respectively. This reduced snowmelt is expected to lower river flows in early summer, threatening water security for over 650 million people[9].
Africa: Congo River Basin
While drought is a concern globally, the Congo River Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo experienced extreme rainfall and flooding in April 2025, rather than low water levels. Heavy rains in Kinshasa led to destructive flooding, with studies indicating such events could occur every two years in a warming world. This contrasts with drought trends elsewhere, showing the variability of hydrological impacts under climate change[10].
Europe: Rhine and Eastern Rivers
Across Europe, drought conditions in 2025 have led to dwindling river flows, particularly in eastern and central regions. The Rhine River, a critical waterway, saw water levels drop to about half the usual level for April 2025 in Cologne, Germany (1.54 meters on April 12), due to a dry winter and spring. This has already impacted river navigation in the Middle Rhine, with forecasts suggesting continued low levels through May and potentially into summer, affecting agriculture and transport[11].
Global Context
The World Meteorological Organization reported that 2023 was the driest year for global rivers in over three decades, with below-normal river flows persisting for five consecutive years. This trend, driven by elevated temperatures and prolonged droughts, continues to stress water availability in 2025, as evidenced by regional reports. While some areas face flooding, the predominant impact on major rivers globally is reduced water levels due to drought, affecting communities, ecosystems, and economies[12].
In summary, drought is causing historically low water levels in many of Earth’s major rivers, including the Amazon, Colorado, Mackenzie, Yangtze, Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Rhine, as of the latest data in 2025. These conditions are driven by a combination of reduced precipitation, rapid snowmelt, and long-term climate trends, with significant implications for water security and regional stability.
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- https://www.acaps.org/fileadmin/Data_Product/Main_media/20250128_ACAPS_BRAZIL_-Impact_of_Drought_in_the_Brazilian_Amazon_and_2025_Outlook.pdf
- https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/153447/intense-widespread-drought-grips-south-america
- https://news.mongabay.com/2024/12/the-amazon-in-2025-challenges-and-hopes-as-the-rainforest-takes-center-stage/
- https://reliefweb.int/report/brazil/acaps-thematic-report-brazil-impact-drought-brazilian-amazon-and-2025-outlook-28-january-2025
- https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/water-year-2025-snow-drought-current-conditions-summary-and-impacts-west
- https://www.gov.nt.ca/ecc/en/newsroom/nwt-water-monitoring-bulletin-june-9-2025
- https://cabinradio.ca/242722/news/environment/land-water/many-nwt-rivers-and-lakes-are-still-low-but-how-low/
- https://www.isciences.com/blog/2025/04/04/proof-point-drought-in-the-yangtze-river-basin
- https://www.newindianexpress.com/explainers/2025/Apr/25/water-shortage-risk-up-as-snow-in-himalayas-at-23-year-record-low
- https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/extreme-flooding-events-in-congo-set-to-occur-every-two-years-in-a-warming-world
- https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and-updates/drought-over-large-parts-europe-raises-concern-2025-05-05_en
- https://wmo.int/media/news/wmo-report-highlights-growing-shortfalls-and-stress-global-water-resources
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