Scientists in Brussels report agricultural droughts where plants and crops show signs of stress across large parts of the Mediterranean region. This primarily affects Central and Southern Italy, Northwestern Spain, Greece, and Central-West Turkey. These conditions are also spreading to Ukraine, Romania, and Southern Russia.
In contrast, Central and Western Europe have experienced wetter than average summer conditions, with some areas in France and Germany facing extremely heavy rainfall and damp conditions, which can also damage crops due to mold. The Western Alps and surrounding areas also suffered negative effects on vegetation due to extremely wet conditions, late vegetative growth, and delayed planting.
The European study highlights that “information from various sources shows that water reservoirs in Sicily are below the alarm level, with volumes 45% lower than the previous year, causing severe consequences for citrus fruits, wheat, and vineyards, with the economic damage estimated at 2.7 billion euros.”
The forecasts from the EU researchers for the coming months are not reassuring: “These impacts will likely persist, as drier than normal conditions are expected between July and September 2024 on the Iberian Peninsula, Southern France, Central-Northern Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Eastern Europe, Southern Russia, and North Africa.”
The prolonged lack of precipitation in much of Southeastern Europe and North Africa, combined with warmer than average temperatures, can affect river flow patterns and have consequences for agriculture, ecosystems, and energy production. Careful management of water supplies is essential, according to EU experts, to minimize such negative impacts.