Three highest levels of drought affect 88 percent of Czechia

Extreme, exceptional or significant drought, meaning one of the three highest levels of drought, is currently affecting more than 88 percent of the Czech Republic. The figure applies to soil depths of up to one metre. Extreme drought is currently affecting 60 percent of the country. The data comes from the InterSucho portal, run by researchers from the Czech Academy of Sciences’ Global Change Research Institute (CzechGlobe). Bioclimatologist Miroslav Trnka announced that this year, together with last year, is creating a significant dry spell, although it has not yet reached the lows recorded between 2015 and 2019.

Although the August heatwave has ended, the much-needed rainfall has yet to arrive. Forecast models expect rain from Monday. Only 0.2 percent of the Czech Republic is currently free from drought. A further 0.7 percent of the country has only reduced soil moisture, the second-lowest level on the drought scale being monitored.