‘Very precarious’: Europe faces growing water crisis as winter drought worsens

Lac de Montbel, a major reservoir and boating lake in the French Pyrenees, is more than 80% empty due to exceptionally low winter rain and snow fall. Photograph: Valentine Chapuis/Getty Images

The scenes are rare enough in mid-summer; in early March, they are unprecedented. Lac de Montbel in south-west France is more than 80% empty, the boats of the local sailing club stranded on its desiccated brown banks.

In northern Italy, tourists can walk to the small island of San Biagio, normally reached only by boat, from the shore of Lake Garda, where the water level is 70cm (27in) lower than average. The Alps have had 63% less snow than usual.