As Europe Burns, Snow Falls in New Zealand
Record heat and drought in Europe threaten to push up prices of olive oil and other staples, while roads and schools on New Zealand's South Island have been closed due to a polar blast.
Record heat and drought in Europe threaten to push up prices of olive oil and other staples, while roads and schools on New Zealand's South Island have been closed due to a polar blast.
While much of Europe battles record temperatures and devastating wildfires, on the other side of the world, residents of New Zealand woke up on August 4, 2026, to a blanket of snow. The storm particularly hit the South Island, where roads and schools were closed, and local authorities urged people not to travel.
Neil Wilson, a Dunedin resident, told local media that snow at this time of year is expected. "Yeah, it's fine. You know, it's supposed to snow now, and the city shouldn't have come to a standstill," Wilson said, commenting on the situation where snow covered the lowlands of the South Island.
On the European continent, the picture is completely different. During this summer, wildfires have hit olive groves in Greece, Italy, and Portugal, while those orchards that survived the fire are dealing with ash, polluted air, and pest infestations. Drought, heat stress, and severe storms have further threatened the harvest. Producers warn that a shortage of usable fruit could push olive oil prices up again, as they remain significantly higher than a few years ago.
The average price of a liter of extra virgin olive oil in British stores is currently over seven pounds and has been rising in recent months. "Unless the weather stabilizes soon, we can expect price increases in the fall because there will be fewer edible fruits from which to produce olive oil," warned Sarah Vachon, founder of the Citizens of Soil group, as reported by The Guardian.
Walter Zanre, director of the UK branch of olive oil producer Filippo Berio, explained that temperatures in Spain, the largest European producer, were closer to normal, but the trees are suffering from drought. "The combination of fruit loss due to drought and an earlier harvest will be closely monitored over the coming weeks, as both factors can affect the amount of olive oil produced and its market prices next year," Zanre said.
Olive groves are not the only ones affected. According to a statement from the French vegetable producers' association Légumes de France, thousands of tons of produce have been lost, with values reaching tens of millions of euros. Affected crops include lettuce, carrots, leeks, garlic, and onions, and due to the lack of rainfall, production of some vegetables could drop by half.
Extreme heat has also affected grapes in the Champagne, Bordeaux, and Burgundy regions. As a result, a smaller harvest and one of the earliest harvests in history are expected. In Champagne, the harvest could begin as early as around August 15, nearly a month earlier than was typical a few decades ago, and producers expect yields to drop by about ten percent compared to last year.
Spain's Ministry of Agriculture has estimated that cereal production for the 2026/2027 season will fall from last year's 24 million tons to just over 18.5 million tons. This forecast was made before wildfires caused additional damage. The Spanish agricultural association ASAJA has reported direct damage to orchards, vineyards, greenhouses, and citrus, avocado, and almond plantations.
The European Union has lowered yield forecasts for several crops: sunflower production is down seven percent, corn six percent, and potatoes and soybeans three percent. Jason Bull, director of British food importer Eurostar Commodities, warned that heatwaves have accelerated the harvest of winter crops, shortening the critical grain-filling period. "Winter crops in many countries are being harvested quickly, and results so far are acceptable, but the heat has reduced potential yields and could affect grain quality," Bull said. He added that irrigated crops are faring better, but rising water demand poses an additional risk.
However, the impacts are not uniform everywhere. Romania has received more rainfall, and Cezar Gheorghe of the consultancy Agricolumn estimates that this year's corn production could reach 8.2 million tons, up from 7.75 million tons in 2025. The European Commission also forecasts a ten percent increase in Italian soft wheat production. Turkey has also recorded record yields of winter crops thanks to a cool and rainy spring.
