Agrometeorology: Drought not easing in large areas

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It was recalled that the precipitation totals of the past ten days show a capricious territorial distribution: mostly 10-20 millimeters of rain fell, but in the central part of the country not even five millimeters fell in a large area, while in the southwest and on the eastern border there were cloudbursts and more than 50 millimeters of rain. The precipitation totals of the past thirty days have also shown large regional differences, with a 20-40 millimeter surplus in the northwestern part of the country and Trans-Tisza region compared to the average, while a 20-50 millimeter deficit in most of Hungary is typical – they emphasized. They added that there has been a deficit across the country over the past ninety days, with a shortfall of about 20-140 millimeters from the multi-year average. The soil moisture content also shows large regional differences: in Transdanubia and on the eastern border there are areas in particularly favorable conditions, while the soil is critically dry mainly in the central part of the country – they highlighted.

The territorial extent of the drought increased until Friday, then decreased significantly in the rainy regions, and even ceased in many places

Currently, more than half of the country is experiencing a severe agricultural drought, primarily in the Great Plain – they explained. They reported that the peak temperature rose day by day in the second half of last week, with temperatures peaking near 40 degrees Celsius in several places in the southeastern part of the country on Saturday. However, cooler air flooded the entire country by Sunday, and this week the maximums were only around 25 degrees Celsius. Summer crops were extremely affected by the lack of precipitation in June and early July, the green mass of the stands is much less than usual at this time, and the plants are less developed – they emphasized. However, there are large regional differences, as is the distribution of precipitation: there are extensive areas where a very poor harvest is expected, for example, corn has not formed a tube. However, in a much smaller area, the prospects are still acceptable – they pointed out.

They reported: Soil moisture is decreasing again in most parts of Hungary, even in areas where it rained more

Last week, on Thursday, then Saturday and Sunday, the surface of plant leaves was permanently wet in many places, which is a favorable condition for the development of fungal diseases. However, humid air occurred for a much shorter period of time – they added. In the week ahead, two cold fronts are expected to arrive: on Sunday and Tuesday, which will bring unevenly distributed precipitation, showers and thunderstorms. Overall, precipitation exceeding ten millimeters is likely in the northwest and northeast by the middle of next week – Hungaromet Zrt. indicated. According to their calculations, a slight increase in the extent of the drought can be expected by the middle of next week. The peak temperature will rise by the end of the week, then only a few degrees on Sunday, but by Wednesday it will fall back to 21-26 degrees Celsius – they wrote.

MTI