Surface soil moisture and water balance
The water balance compares recent rainfall against plant evapotranspiration driven by heat and wind, measuring water stress across crops, pastures and gardens.
Instant Wetter Frankreich › Drought & Wildfires
This environmental observatory tracks water resources and vegetation vulnerability to wildfires across France, distinguishing surface agricultural soil moisture, deep groundwater reserves and daily fire weather danger.
The water balance compares recent rainfall against plant evapotranspiration driven by heat and wind, measuring water stress across crops, pastures and gardens.
Underground aquifers recharge mainly from October to March. During low-water periods, four prefectoral restriction levels regulate water use: vigilance, alert, reinforced alert and crisis.
The combination of dry vegetation, relative humidity below 30%, high temperatures and strong winds (such as the Mistral or Tramontane) favors rapid fire spread.
In summer, dry hardened soils promote rapid surface runoff, and active vegetation absorbs nearly all infiltrated water in the top centimeters before it can percolate deep underground.
From the alert level upward, watering lawns and gardens is generally prohibited during the hottest hours of the day (typically 11 AM to 6 PM) and suspended in crisis zones.
Never discard cigarette butts outdoors, avoid spark-producing tools near dry grass and respect temporary forest access closures.