Lebanon is facing the prospect of a severe summer drought after recording its driest winter in modern history,  triggering alarm among farmers, water authorities, and environmental experts.

Rainfall levels have plunged to historic lows, raising urgent concerns over water scarcity and the potential for widespread crop damage across the country.

According to Mark Wehaibe, head of the meteorological department at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport, the capital received just 48% of its annual average rainfall this winter. Zahle, in the Bekaa Valley, fared even worse with only 40%, while Tripoli, in northern Lebanon, reached around 60%.

“The patterns we’re seeing are clearly linked to climate change,” Wehaibe told Nidaa Al Watan newspaper. “With rising atmospheric temperatures, weather behavior has become increasingly erratic, affecting both the quantity and the distribution—geographically and over time—of rainfall.”

Lebanon endured a record-breaking heatwave in the summer of 2024, and this winter’s lack of precipitation adds another chapter to the country’s growing list of climate extremes.

The rainfall shortage in Lebanon mirrors broader global trends, with several countries experiencing similar weather conditions this year.  Still, Wehaibe cautioned against drawing long-term conclusions, pointing out that Lebanon saw an unusually wet winter the previous year.

“There’s no set rule,” he said. “One dry year doesn’t necessarily mean the next one will be the same.”

The consequences of the current drought are already being felt, particularly by farmers, many of whom are bracing for major losses. Mustafa Ghosn, an agricultural engineer and founder of the Agricultural Engineers Network in Lebanon, warned that falling groundwater levels and drying rivers could devastate the country’s already vulnerable farming sector.

“The decline in rainfall is lowering groundwater reserves and threatening the flow of springs and rivers—essential water sources for both farmers and livestock breeders,” Ghosn told Nidaa Al Watan.

Both Ghosn and Wehaibe emphasized the urgency of immediate action to mitigate the looming crisis, with the latter urging citizens to conserve water and reuse it wherever possible.

“For instance, water used to wash fruits and vegetables can be collected and reused to irrigate plants,” he said.

Ghosn criticized what he described as the government’s failure to adopt proactive climate policies, particularly in the agricultural sector.

“The lack of effective policies to address climate change has only deepened the crisis,” he said. “We should have already been introducing smart farming techniques that help crops adapt to increasingly extreme weather conditions.”

He urged the government to develop a national strategy focused on water management, including the adoption of modern irrigation systems, better management of natural resources, and the construction of additional reservoirs and wells to strengthen the country’s water security.

“The Agriculture Ministry must collaborate with civil society to train farmers and raise awareness about water-saving practices and climate adaptation,” Ghosn added.

With the summer months fast approaching and reservoirs at critically low levels, the country is heading into what experts warn could be one of its toughest seasons yet. Whether Lebanon can navigate this looming water crisis with minimal damage remains to be seen.