Extremely dry conditions prevail in Slovakia at the moment, with the situation having worsened as compared to last week. The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) warned about this in connection with last week's climate assessment. "In the yearly cycle of atmospheric precipitation, the summer months in Slovakia are among those months with the highest precipitation in total. This year, however, no such growth in precipitation has taken place”. According to meteorologists, the rainfall deficit, which has been ongoing since September 2021, has grown quickly over the summer this year. The extreme soil drought has affected about 55 percent of Slovak land, with drought conditions of varying extent present in 98 percent of the country. In the past 90 days the rainfall deficit is highest in Banská Bystrica, where it reaches minus 175 millimetres. The meteorological models do not predict significant widespread precipitation through the end of July. There will be thunderstorms, but these will only alleviate the drought in specific locations, said climatologist Pavel Matejovič, adding that further development will depend on the rainfall in August and September. If heavier rainfall does not occur in this period either, many areas will have problems with their drinking water supply. However, up to almost half of the European Union is currently threatened by drought, scientists working for the European Commission pointed out on Monday. In a report for July, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre classified 46 percent of EU territory as at risk of drought, with 11 percent already suffering directly from water shortages. Italy is the worst affected, with the lowlands around the Po river in the north of the country most at risk.
SOURCE: TASR, Daily SME
