Irrigation sprinkler on farmland. Photo: AdobeStock / Tjeerd
Despite the changeable weather of the past few days, this year is currently still part of the 5% drought years. How long will this be the case? In this article we give you a drought update and see if the precipitation in the coming period will provide some relief.
Partly due to the record sunny and record warm June, we are currently still dealing with a significant precipitation deficit. At the moment we have an average precipitation deficit of no less than 195 mm. This year is still among the 5% driest years.
The precipitation deficit also has an impact on groundwater levels. The groundwater levels are well below the long-term average in many places, especially in the north the groundwater is very low in some places. The water levels of the Rhine and IJssel are also currently lower than usual. Switzerland is currently experiencing heavy showers, resulting in the Rhine being fed with water from Switzerland again.
The precipitation deficit is currently greatest in the south and west. Local precipitation deficits of up to 240 mm occur here. In the eastern provinces, the precipitation deficit is usually between 150 and 210 mm.
Showers bring relief
We will be dealing with changeable weather for the next few days. Due to a dominant westerly wind direction, showers or areas of rain have been able to reach our country easily lately. We will also have to deal with changeable weather in the coming days. Every day there are showers or rain for some time. Heavy rain will fall especially on Thursday. There is an average of about 15 to locally more than 20 millimeters of rain over the country. As a result, some relief in the precipitation deficit will occur.
The precipitation deficit is therefore expected to decrease slightly in the near future. At the beginning of August we will then drop below 200 mm and 2023 will no longer be among the 5% driest years. It will not rain continuously, because there are also dry moments with sunshine. Really warm and sunny summer weather is not planned so that there will be no serious drought.
Regional chance of wildfires
Wildfire risk 1 applies in a large part of the country. This means that caution is advised with fire in nature. For the northern provinces and also for South Limburg, wildfire risk phase 2 currently applies. This means extra alertness and there is a chance that a wildfire will start. The use of fire pits, torches, wish balloons and fireworks are therefore prohibited here.
2023-07-25 05:40:42
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