France, Sept. 17 -- River flows in 2025 were among the driest recorded worldwide in more than 30 years, the WMO found in its annual State of Global Water Resources report, published on Thursday.

Freshwater stored in groundwater, lakes, rivers, soil, vegetation, ice and snow has also been declining since the middle of the last decade. These reserves act as a buffer, helping prevent a drought or dry season from turning directly into a water crisis.

"We are depleting that savings account. We are spending our reserves," WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said. Outside the norms

Glaciers lost mass in every major glacial region for a fourth consecutive year in 2025. Between 2023 and 2025, they lost an estimated 1,400 gigatonnes of water - a...