Droughts in western Central Europe and associated atmospheric circulation patterns since 1844

Neimry, Emile; Goosse, Hugues; Jonard, Mathieu

doi:10.5194/wcd-7-1759-2026

Articles | Volume 7, issue 3

https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-7-1759-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-7-1759-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 7, issue 3

Research article

|

10 Sep 2026

Research article |

| 10 Sep 2026

Droughts in western Central Europe and associated atmospheric circulation patterns since 1844

Emile Neimry, Hugues Goosse, and Mathieu Jonard

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-7-1759-2026-supplement

Data sets

Drought indices (SPI and SPEI) over western Central Europe (1844-2023) Emile Neimry https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22044508

ModE-RA - A global monthly paleo-reanalysis of the modern era (1421 to 2008): Set 1420-3_1850-1 Veronika Valler et al. https://doi.org/10.26050/WDCC/ModE-RA_s14203-18501

Model code and software

eneimry/WCD_Neimry_et_al_2026: Code repository for "Droughts in western Central Europe and associated circulation patterns since 1844" (Version v1) Emile Neimry https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22678083

Short summary

This study examines 180 years of drought variability in western Central Europe and its links to atmospheric circulation using three evaluated reanalysis datasets. Results reveal strong multidecadal variability, winter wetting, summer drying, and a growing influence of atmospheric evaporative demand through warming. Four circulation patterns are identified, with recent droughts increasingly tied to the European High, marking a shift toward dynamics that intensify drought under climate change.