RMI warns
'Drought is becoming more and more worrying'
Precipitation values have been quite low since July last year. If this precipitation deficit continues in the coming weeks, it will create worrying situations for various sectors. The RMI (Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium) warns against this.
Last spring (March to May) only 108,0 millimeters of precipitation was recorded in Uccle (Belgium). That's less than 60 percent of normal precipitation (187,8 millimeters) at that time of year.
506,7
millimetres
Rainfall only 65 percent
In total, only 11 millimeters of precipitation fell in the past 506,7 months. That is about 65 percent of the normal precipitation value (781,0 millimeters). Significant precipitation deficits were also registered in the rest of Belgium. However, they again had to deal with different intensities. That was mainly dependent on the local geography.
Replenishment of the groundwater level
The first half of 2016 was quite wet, which contributed to the replenishment of the groundwater level. As a result, the negative effects of the drought on underground water reserves have been virtually limited. This is reported by the RMI.
However, it does not look like the forecasts will ensure that the precipitation deficit will be eliminated any time soon.
Drought ahead
After the wetter weather of the past few days, the forecast for the next 14 days shows a rapid return of stable and dry weather. This will be accompanied by a high pressure area, which will regularly occur in Belgium.
The RMI points out that the weather is more difficult to predict in the longer term. The seasonal forecast models refer to a summer that is warmer than normal. However, there is no precipitation in those forecasts yet.
Keep an eye on the harvest
"Especially due to the fact that the drought is situated over a longer period, that the meteorological summer has now started and that it will also be dry for the next 14 days, we think that problems may arise," said weatherman David Dehenauw. of the RMI.
'I have reports from Wallonia where the harvest is closely monitored. There were already problems there in recent months and they have now only gotten worse. The situation is better in Flanders, but even there in certain regions (such as the south of Flemish Brabant, the south of East Flanders and Limburg) only 60 percent of the normal precipitation has fallen,' says Dehenauw.
No records
No drought records have been set. 'The drought will probably be compensated, because nature always compensates. Hopefully that won't happen too much in the summer, but only in the months after that', says weatherman Dehenauw.
Kimberly Baker
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