ADMS

In the ninth reporting period, i.e. from 21 June to 20 August 2011, we can find no threat of agricultural drought conditions in Poland.

The values of climatic water balance (CWB) in Poland are much higher than the critical value; in larger areas of the country they are positive and continuously growing. Negative values occur only in the southern part of the Wielkopolska province.

In the current sixty day period water demand is much smaller for all crops. While the CWB values are higher, and have increased by 15 mm compared to the previous (eighth reporting period). This will show the next sixty day period with the problem of excessive water.

The air temperature in July was varied. The coldest was in the western and south-western parts of the country (16-17.5°C), while the warmest was in the eastern parts of Poland (18-19°C).

The first ten days of August were the warmest in the southern Wielkopolska Lowlands (18-19°C). In other areas of Poland the air temperature was slightly lower at 17-18°C. In the second ten day period of August, the southern Wielkopolska Lowland was also the warmest area, although the temperature was already slightly higher at 19-19.5°C than the previous month. Similar hotter conditions also occurred in the Dolnośląskie voivodeship and the Sandomierz Basin. In other areas of central and southern Poland were also warm, from 18 to 19°C. The coldest areas were in northern Poland, 16-18°C.

The precipitation in July was very widespread over a large area of the country. The greatest rainfall occurred in the east and in the narrow strip on the western edge of Poland, from 160 to 300 mm, slightly smaller precipitation, from 100 to 160 mm occurred in the rest of the country.

In the first ten day period of August the greatest precipitation occurred in the Suwalki region (26-33 mm) and gradually decreased in a south-westerly direction towards the Ślaskie Lowlands, reaching values of 10 to 16 mm. In the second ten day period of August, rainfall over a large area of the country ranged from 15 to 45 mm, while the lowest (5 to 15 mm) occurred in the south-eastern part of Poland. The rest of the country's rainfall was higher and ranged from 15 to 45 mm.

Weather conditions in recent weeks is still characterised by significant rainfall and strong thunderstorms. Because of frequent rainfall and high humidity, in many parts of the country the grain harvest is delayed. There is still a high humidity, which creates a high risk of fungal diseases of crops. Very negative effects caused by the current weather conditions are causing sprouting in cereals. Many fields still remain wet, which hinders or prevents the entry of equipment and maintenance of crop collections.