Drought in Occitania: critical situation in Aude and the P.-O., Hérault under surveillance… update on water tables

In Bédarieux, in Hérault, the river is almost dry. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

L'état des cours d'eau au 26 août 2024. INFO-SECHERESSE

Avec des températures très chaudes au bord de la Méditerranée en ce mois d'août et des pluies assez faibles, les nappes phréatiques restent en souffance dans certains endroits. 

The months follow one another and are similar in terms of drought. It is difficult to catch up on the accumulated delay, particularly in the Aude and the Pyrénées-Orientales. It is true that it rained this month, but with intensities that were far too low to recharge the water tables. 

On the meteorological side, the month of August was marked by particularly high temperatures. In Occitanie, they exceeded seasonal norms by 2 to 3°C. However, the BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières) is moderate on a national scale: “This summer, the situation of groundwater is, with a few exceptions, very satisfactory”.

Higher temperatures in Occitanie and near the Mediterranean. DROUGHT INFO

Little precipitation except in Mont-Aigoual

But the exceptions must be sought in the Occitanie region. In particular, because of the heat, several departments have been placed on heatwave alert by Météo France. Although temperatures are now a little milder, some areas have recorded precipitation.

Rainfall over the last 30 days. DROUGHT INFO

According to the information website info-secheresse.fr, “over the last 30 days, rainfall has been generally low, with particularly dry weather in central France”. 

In detail, apart from the Mont-Aigoual station in the Gard, where 102.5 mm fell in April, there is a deficit almost everywhere. At the Nîmes-Courbessac station, it is still 33.6 mm. But in Montpellier Fréjorgues, we stick to 18.6 mm, in Béziers-Vias, 18.6 mm and we plunge to 5.2 mm on the Perpignan-Rivesaltes station. Carcassonne comes out honorably with 25.8 mm and Mende also with 37.8 mm. 

Rivers and Groundwater

This precipitation has been beneficial for river levels and flows in many areas. With the exception of two departments in France: Pyrénées-Orientales (66) and Hautes-Alpes (05) which “still have lower than normal river flows”.

The state of groundwater as of August 25. INFO-DROUGHT

Concerning groundwater, there has been a slight general drop in levels, more pronounced in the south-eastern quarter of the country. Particularly in the Mediterranean departments. According to info-secheresse.fr: “Since vegetation absorbs a large part of the precipitation, its effect on groundwater recharge is considerably limited. A more significant impact is expected with the return of autumn and the recharge season”.

However, we hope not to immediately move on to the torrential rains of autumn…