Archive · 17 Sep 2026
WMO Reports Below-Normal River Flows Across World in 2025
The World Meteorological Organization reported that many rivers had unusually low water levels in 2025.
More than one-third of the world’s river basins were below normal.
The agency said this was one of the driest years for rivers in the past 35 years of records.
Water stored on land, such as groundwater, lakes, ice and snow, has also been falling for about ten years.
This stored water acts like a savings account that helps people during very dry times.
Glaciers lost ice in every region for the fourth year in a row.
Some places, including parts of South Asia, had more water than usual.
The report said these uneven patterns make water supplies harder to predict and could create future problems.
More than one-third of the world’s river basins recorded below-normal flows in 2025.
The World Meteorological Organization described 2025 as one of the driest years for rivers since data collection began 35 years ago.
Terrestrial water storage, including groundwater, lakes, vegetation, ice and snow, has declined for about a decade.
Glaciers lost ice across all regions in 2025, marking their fourth consecutive year of losses.
Some basins, including parts of South Asia, had above-normal water levels, showing increasingly unpredictable water cycles.
- Who
- The World Meteorological Organization and its Secretary-General, Celeste Saulo.
- What
- A report found below-normal river flows in more than one-third of global river basins in 2025, alongside declining terrestrial water storage and widespread glacier losses.
- When
- In 2025; the report was released on Thursday, though the articles do not specify the date.
- Where
- Across the world, with above-normal levels reported in some basins in parts of South Asia.
- Why
- Declining water reserves and continued glacier retreat could weaken supplies during dry years and contribute to long-term water insecurity.
- Reporting agency
- World Meteorological Organization
- River basins below normal
- More than one-third of the world’s river basins in 2025
- Historical comparison
- One of the driest years for global rivers since data collection began 35 years ago
- Terrestrial water storage
- Has shown a declining trend since 2014–2016
- Glacier losses
- Recorded across all regions in 2025
- Consecutive glacier-loss years
- Four
- Regional exception
- Some river basins in parts of South Asia had above-normal water levels