Dry soils, scorching temperatures, water restrictions... Mediterranean regions remain threatened by abnormal drought until November when "close to normal" weather conditions are expected in most of the EU, after a summer which weighed on agricultural yields, according to the European Commission.

Nearly half of the territory of the EU (47%) remained, in the first ten days of August, exposed to so-called "warning" levels of drought, i.e. recording a significant deficit of Soil moisture, the Commission's scientific research service, JRC, said on Monday – about the same level as a month earlier.

And 17% are placed on alert, with vegetation and crops seriously weakened by the lack of water, compared to 11% at the beginning of July.

“Warmer and drier conditions”

Now, “after a long, unusually dry spell, near-normal conditions are expected from August to October across much of Europe,” JRC experts say in a report.

"This may not be enough to fully recover from the cumulative (rainfall) deficit over more than six months, but it will alleviate critical conditions in many areas," they said.

Already, rainfall in mid-August “may have alleviated drought conditions,” although “in some areas, thunderstorms have caused damage and may have limited beneficial effects.”

However, for the western Mediterranean regions "warmer and drier than average conditions could occur until November", and parts of Spain and Portugal are expected to continue to experience "warning" drought, warns the JRC.

A level not seen since 1950

The report estimates that atmospheric circulation conditions “typically associated with heat waves and drought during the summer months in Europe” have increased in the past three months to a level not seen since 1950 over much of the continent.

Among the regions most affected by the rainfall deficit, the report singles out central and southern Portugal, all of Spain, southern France, central Italy, southern Germany, as well as a vast area covering Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova.

Summer crops under threat

Associated by scientists with global warming, these exceptionally hot and dry weather conditions "have significantly reduced yield prospects for summer crops", observe the experts.

According to the report, corn (yield down 8.6% at EU level), sunflower (-5.5%) and soybeans (-9.6%) are the most affected.

The final yield for the maize crop is currently expected to be 16% below the average for the past five years.

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