Agrometeorology: heatwave, atmospheric drought and heat stress await plants

By: STA Date: 2025. 08. 07. 09:00

Sunny, dry weather is expected until next weekend with peak temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius and frequent atmospheric drought, which not only makes the development of field plants more difficult, but also increases the risk of sunburn in ripening vegetables and fruits – wrote HungaroMet Zrt. in its agrometeorological analysis on Thursday.

(Photo: Pixabay)

According to the analysis, in the past ten days, much less rain fell than the long-term average in most parts of the country, with rain and showers providing thorough irrigation in more than a third of the country’s territory, while in the Danube-Tisza region they provided very sparse irrigation. In many places, amounts of between 10-25 millimeters fell, in spots between 30-60 millimeters, but in many places in the central and eastern parts of the country only 1-4 millimeters fell. The area of the drought has decreased in the past week, but its extent has increased in the central part of the country. The moisture content of the soil layer near the surface is still satisfactory in most places, but the middle soil layer is already critically dry in a large area, and there is very little moisture in the layer deeper than half a meter throughout the country. The temperature was 2-3 degrees Celsius lower in Transdanubia and 1-2 degrees Celsius lower east of the Danube than usual at this time of year, several times at night and in several places it cooled below 15 degrees, on Thursday morning the air was below 10 degrees, and during the day the values were typically between 25-30 degrees.

Summer crops were extremely affected by the lack of precipitation in June and early July, and the stands are in many places less developed than usual at this time of year

A very poor harvest is expected in a large area in the central part of the country, for example, no ear was formed on corn. Corn and sunflowers will need a significant amount of rainfall in the next two weeks, which they will not receive, and this will further worsen crop prospects across the country.

According to the forecast, sunny, dry, warm weather is expected in the next 8-10 days

On Sunday, maximums will be around 33-38 degrees, but at night the air will typically cool down to 20, and in some places below 15 degrees. Cooling and some precipitation may only arrive next weekend. Humidity will drop below 30 percent during the day, which will not be higher than 60 percent at night. In addition to increased evaporation, soils will quickly lose their moisture content, the territorial extent and extent of agricultural drought will increase, and high UV radiation is also expected, which can cause sunburn in ripening vegetables and fruits – they wrote.

MTI