- 19:00
Lebanon is facing an unusually dry year, with autumn bringing far less rainfall than normal. According to the Minister of Energy and Water, precipitation is down about 51 percent compared with the average. The winter of 2024-2025 had already been exceptionally dry, with Beirut recording just 382 mm, compared with 1,051 mm the previous year. The national average is around 800 mm.
Since the start of autumn, only 20 to 30 mm of rain has fallen, mostly in North Lebanon, compared with a normal 100 mm, meteorologist Father Elie Khneisser told This is Beirut.
Water supplies are under severe strain. Lake Qaraoun, the country’s main reservoir, has dropped to 45 million cubic meters, down from 230 million in 2024 and far below the 350 million cubic meter annual average. Even worse, 60 million cubic meters of water remain unusable due to heavy pollution. Groundwater is not replenishing, reducing the flow of springs and rivers, including the Litani River, by around 30 percent. This has forced strict rationing, especially in Beirut and Mount Lebanon.
Farmers at the Breaking Point
Lebanon’s agricultural sector, vital to the rural economy, is struggling. A recent report from the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) shows that wheat fields have shrunk by 26 percent, while overall cultivated land has dropped more than 53 percent. The number of wheat plots fell from 15,691 in 2016 to 11,638 in 2024.
To cope, many farmers are drawing water from increasingly deep wells, sometimes more than 50 meters, to keep crops alive. The current drought is therefore far more than a weather event. It is a major environmental, economic, and social challenge.
Ibrahim Tarshishi, president of the Bekaa Farmers Association, confirmed the gravity of the situation. “Wheat is the most affected crop this year in the Bekaa, along with grapes, tomatoes, and citrus. The situation is similar in the south and north,” he said.
The rainy season, which usually begins in early October, has been almost nonexistent. “By now, we should have received around 130 mm of rain, but in Tal Amara, we have had only 2 mm. Last year at this time, we had already reached 25 mm,” Tarshishi said.
Farmers are trying to adapt by using water more efficiently through new irrigation technologies, but the measures are not enough. “All water reserves were used up last year. The state must act urgently by building reservoirs and dams, recycling wastewater, and allowing deep wells of up to 400 meters to prevent an agricultural disaster,” he warned.
Tarshishi added that some crops may no longer be suited to the local climate. “For example, wheat irrigation, which normally begins in April, is becoming increasingly difficult. If this trend continues, the next season could be even drier.”
A Concerning but Still Reversible Phenomenon
Father Elie Khneisser urges caution and perspective. While he acknowledges the severity of the rainfall deficit, he emphasizes the importance of viewing the situation scientifically. The distinction between climate and season is crucial when assessing a drought. A season refers to a specific period of the year with certain weather patterns, while climate is measured over decades and reflects long-term trends. A dry season does not necessarily indicate a structural drought. After an unusually wet 2023-2024 season, which brought excess rainfall and flooding, a dry spell is normal because the climate operates in cycles.
He explains that the current anomalies are caused by unfavorable atmospheric pressures that block rain systems over Lebanon, while rain-bearing clouds move north toward Turkey and Europe. He remains cautiously optimistic. “The coming weeks could bring a rebalancing, with heavy rainfall returning from mid-November, influenced by Atlantic movements and changes at the North Pole,” he said.
While the situation is worrying, he stresses the need to learn from it rather than panic. “This is a warning signal, not a catastrophe,” he said. He calls for water conservation measures, improved storage infrastructure, and the adaptation of crops to new climate conditions.
The crisis is already apparent. Lebanon, weakened by economic and security challenges, including conflict in South Lebanon and the Bekaa, is struggling to manage limited water resources. Increased consumption for agriculture and domestic use is putting further pressure on the system. The coming months will be critical in determining how the situation unfolds.
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