Drought in the western Mediterranean - May 2023
GDO analytical report
Severe drought is affecting the western Mediterranean due to persistent lack of precipitation and temperature positive anomalies during more than one year, and because of exceptionally dry and warm late winter and spring conditions. Substantial negative anomalies of soil moisture, river flow and vegetation have triggered extensive warning and alert conditions according to the Combined Drought Indicator.
In both northern Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, severe impacts on crops have been reported with reduced and delayed sowing, and well below average yield forecast.
Seasonal forecasts point to warmer than average late spring and early summer conditions over the western Mediterranean. Precipitation forecasts are characterized by higher spatial variability and uncertainty, even if a signal of wetter than normal conditions emerges in northern Africa. Close monitoring and proper water use plans are required, as next summer currently has a high risk of being critical with respect to water resources.
TORETI Andrea;
BAVERA Davide;
ACOSTA NAVARRO Juan;
ARIAS-MUÑOZ Carolina;
BARBOSA Paulo;
DE JAGER Alfred;
DI CIOLLO Chiara;
FIORAVANTI Guido;
GRIMALDI Stefania;
HRAST ESSENFELDER Arthur;
MAETENS Willem;
MAGNI Diego;
MASANTE Dario;
MAZZESCHI Marco;
MCCORMICK Niall;
SALAMON Peter;
2023-06-13
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC134081
978-92-68-04518-3 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 31555 EN,
OP KJ-NA-31-555-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC134081,
10.2760/883951 (online),
Additional supporting files
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