At least two Lake Balatons' worth of water is missing from the soil in Hungary

Hungary faces severe water shortages, with soil moisture levels dropping significantly from 26% to 20% between 2023 and 2026. This decline represents a loss of approximately 4.1 cubic kilometers of water in the top 75 centimeters of soil. The Central Transdanubia region experienced the most significant decrease, while Southern Great Plain remains the most affected area in absolute terms. The summer of 2026 saw record low water levels in rivers, exacerbated by consecutive heatwaves and insufficient rainfall. The monitoring network recorded less than 200 millimeters of precipitation from January to September 2026, compared to around 300 millimeters in 2022. Researchers emphasize the need for sustainable water retention strategies to mitigate future drought impacts.