The drought continues in Slovenia, and soon the heat will return
Slovenia continues to experience dry conditions in the surface soil layer, although water balance data show a slightly smaller deficit compared to the previous week. According to forecasts by the Agency for Environment of the Republic of Slovenia (Arso), upcoming rainfall will improve conditions somewhat but will not fully compensate for the deficits. Over the last 30 days, the country has experienced exceptionally dry weather, with the most pronounced droughts in areas around Ljubljana, Lower Sava, Pomur, Podravje, Gorenjska, Savinja, Goriska, and Notranjska. The period was marked by unusually high temperatures, with average daily temperatures significantly above the long-term average. Rainfall has been sparse over the past month, with some increase in the last ten days. In regions with the most severe drought, up to 100 liters of rain per square meter would be needed to normalize conditions. Upcoming weather is expected to bring more cloud cover and isolated thunderstorms, potentially adding up to 20 liters of rain per square meter in western and southern parts of the country. However, this will only partially improve the situation. After a brief cooling period, temperatures are預
Slovenia remains in a drought situation, with ongoing dry conditions affecting much of the country. Agricultural drought continues to impact the entire nation, with some areas experiencing a deficit of up to 100 millimeters of rainfall. The Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for the Environment (Arso) reports that nearly half of the river monitoring stations are recording low water levels. Forecasted rains over the coming days are expected to provide some relief, though they will not fully resolve the drought. The drought has persisted throughout the last 30-day period, marked by significantly below-average precipitation levels. According to Arso, rainfall amounted to between 20% and 60% of the long-term average, while temperatures have been higher than usual by between 2.8 and 3.8 degrees Celsius. Evapotranspiration values, which measure the amount of water lost through evaporation and plant transpiration, were recorded as very high to exceptionally high, ranging mostly between 110% and 130% of the long-term average. Dry conditions persist in the surface soil layer across the country, although there has been a slight decrease in water deficits compared to the previous week. The most severe drought conditions remain in Ljubljana and its surroundings, Lower Drava Valley, Upper Drava Valley, Styria, Carinthian Basin, Notranjska, and parts of the Gorizia region. These areas experience extreme drought with a deficit of between 60 and 100 millimeters of rainfall. In contrast, regions such as Upper Savinja, the Bela Krajina, the coast, and Bohinj require approximately 50 to 60 millimeters of rain for normalization, while the Karst, Lower Drava Valley, and Kočevje need between 15 and 40 millimeters. The drought has also impacted the balance of water flows and groundwater levels. Arso notes that river flow levels are currently low, with low-water conditions recorded at around 45% of monitoring stations nationwide. The most severely affected rivers include the Mura, the upper reaches of the Sava with tributaries, the Ljubljanica, and the Soča. Groundwater levels have also shown moderate drought conditions in much of the country, particularly in the Savinja region, while the Karst and Gorizia regions maintain relatively good groundwater reserves. Water levels continue to decline or stagnate across the country. Forecasted rains in the coming days are expected to bring some improvement, though they will not fully alleviate the drought. Weather forecasts indicate variable weather with occasional showers, particularly in western and central regions, with light rain expected in the afternoon on Monday. Arso predicts up to 20 millimeters of rainfall in western and southern parts of the country, while other areas may see up to 10 millimeters. Although these rains will slightly improve conditions, they will not completely compensate for the lack of rainfall in the surface soil layer. Drought conditions will still prevail across the country, albeit less intensely. With the arrival of rain, temporary increases in stream flows and smaller rivers may occur, but overall, low river levels will continue to dominate. The forecasted rains in the following week will not significantly affect groundwater levels according to Arso’s assessments. As the week progresses, temperatures are expected to rise again, reaching between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius towards the end of the week. Despite the anticipated rainfall, the persistent dry conditions will likely continue to challenge agricultural production and water management efforts across Slovenia.
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