SURFACE SOIL DROUGHT IN 2021

Abstract

In 2021, three drought periods occurred: spring drought, flash drought at the beginning of summer, and autumn drought. These were separated by periods of noticeable precipitation, and as a result there were no major economic losses. The first drought period began in a very dry March with, on country average, only a third of the March 1981- 2010 normal precipitation, and was brought to an end only in early May. Dry conditions developed again in June with monthly precipitation level significantly below average, and with a pronounced heat wave in the second half of the month. Autumn drought began in September, when practically the entire first half of the month was without any recorded precipitation across the country. Based on publicly available data, the early spring drought did not have a significant impact on agricultural crops and natural habitats, while the June flash drought, together with heat stress, had a greater negative impact on agriculture, especially agricultural plants in shallow soils.