This Joint Research Centre (JRC) shows that drought conditions have been deteriorating in central and eastern Europe. Alert conditions persist in central-eastern Europe and have worsened in western Europe. In the next months, a north-south water dipole is expected in Europe, with drier conditions in most of the central and northern regions and wetter than usual conditions in the Mediterranean areas. The report is part of a series of analytical reports on the analysis of drought events affecting Europe as well as the other regions of the world. These studies build on data and information retrieved and processed by the Copernicus Drought Observatories and is complemented with sections on impacts, large scale circulation, and other relevant factors.