ADMS

The Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute, in accordance with an Act from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has developed the climatic water balance for all 2478 Polish local districts and, on the basis of soil categories, calculated the current risk of agricultural drought for the following crops: winter and spring cereals, grain maize and maize for silage, potato, sugar beet, hops, tobacco, ground vegetables, fruit shrubs and trees, strawberries and legumes.

In the eighth reporting period, i.e. from June 11 to August 10, 2016, IUNG-PIB stated no risk of agricultural drought conditions in Poland. The Climatic Water Balance values, which are the basis for assessing the risk of agricultural drought, are negative for the majority of areas. However, for the aforementioned crops the values are higher than critical.

In this reporting period the lowest Climatic Water Balance values have been recorded in the south-eastern part of Lubelska Upland (Roztocze), south-eastern part of Mazowiecka Lowland, and in the north-eastern part of Małopolska Upland. At present, the lowest Climatic Water Balance values in these areas range from -109 to -139 mm.

In the current sixty-day period the Climatic Water Balance values in Poland have increased, on average, by 32 mm in comparison to the previous reporting period.

June was very warm in Poland regarding thermal conditions. In the vast majority of the country the temperature exceeded the multiannual average by 2-3°C. The highest temperature was recorded in the south of Poland, where the monthly average exceeded 19°C. In the majority of areas the temperature ranged from 18 to 19°C. The lowest temperature (17-18°C) was recorded in the north of Poland in Pomorskie and Mazurskie Lake Districts.

In the first decade of July slight fluctuations in air temperature were recorded. In the north of Poland temperatures ranged from 16 to 17.5°C. Slightly higher were temperatures in the central and southern parts of the country, from 17 to 18.5°C. In the two following decades temperatures were more diversified. The highest (19°C) was recorded in Silesian Lowland, Roztocze and Karpackie Foreland. In the central part of the country temperature ranged from 18 to 19°C. Slightly lower temperature was recorded in Małopolska Upland: 17.5-18.5°C, and the lowest in Krakowsko-Częstochowska Upland: 17-17.5°C.

In the third decade of July definitely the lowest air temperature was recorded in Pomorskie Lake District, where it did not exceed 18.5°C. Warmer, from 19.5 to 20.5°C was in the north-east of the country (Mazurskie Lake District) and in Silesian Upland. In Lubelska and Małopolska Uplands, Wielkopolskie Lake District and Mazowiecka Lowland temperatures ranged from 20 to 21°C. The highest were recorded in Sudeckie Foreland and in the southern part of Mazowiecka Lowland, where they exceeded 21.5°C.

The temperature distributions in July and in the first decade of August were similar. The lowest temperature, below 16.5°C, was recorded in Pomorskie Lake District, in south-west Sudeten and in Tatra Mountains. It was warmer in Mazurskie Lake District and Małopolska Upland (17.5°C-18°C). The highest temperature, above 19.5°C was recorded in the south-eastern part of Lubelska Upland and Opolska Plain. In the rest of the country temperature ranged from 18.5°C to 19.5°C.

Precipitation in June widely varied across the country. The highest, between 100 and 120 mm, and here and there exceeding 120 mm, was recorded in Gorzowska Basin, Drawskie Lake District and in the northern parts of Mazurskie Lake District. Relatively high precipitation, ranging from 60 to 100 mm occurred in the western part of Poland, in the eastern part of Lubelska Upland and Roztocze, and in Silesian Beskids. In the rest of the country precipitation ranged from 40 to 60 mm. The lowest, below 40 mm, was recorded in Kielecka Upland and in the southern part of Mazowiecka Lowland. Such great variations in the amount of precipitation throughout the country resulted from the stormy character of rainfalls.

The first decade of July was characterised by very high precipitation, ranging from 40 to more than 100 mm in the north of Poland. In the north-east of the country it was lower, from 40 to 60 mm. In the vast majority of the country precipitation ranged from 10 to 40 mm.

In the second decade of July precipitation in Poland was more diversified. The heaviest rainfalls, from 100 to 120 mm, were recorded in the area from Karkonosze, through Gnieźnieńskie, Krajeńskie and Bytowskie Lake Districts, to Kaszubskie Lake District. Slightly lower precipitation, from 60 to 100 mm, was recorded in Silesian and Krakowsko- Częstochowska Uplands. In the eastern part of Lubelska Upland and Roztocze precipitation ranged from 40 mm to 80 mm. In the rest of the country precipitation ranged from 20 to 40 mm, whilst the lowest, not exceeding 20 mm, was recorded in Kielecka Upland.

In the third decade of July the heaviest rainfalls occurred in Krakowsko-Częstochowska Upland, exceeding 120 mm (140% of the multiannual norm). Lower precipitation, ranging from 20 to 80 mm was recorded in Silesian, Małopolska and Lubelska Uplands, in the central part of Mazurskie Lake District and in the eastern part of Pomorskie Lake District. The lowest precipitation, below 10 mm, occurred in Roztocze and in Podkarpacie.

In the first decade of August very diversified and low precipitation was recorded. Precipitation below 10 mm occurred in Silesian Lowland and in the southern part of Południowowielkopolska Lowland. In the vast majority of the country precipitation ranged from 20 to 40 mm. The highest values, between 40 and 80 mm, and here and there exceeding 80 mm were recorded in Koszalińskie Coastland, Beskids, Tatra Mountains and in some parts of Małopolska Upland.

Weather conditions during the recent weeks were characterised by heavy and stormy rainfalls, making this year’s harvest difficult. Heavy rainfall occurred in the end of the vegetation period of cereals, which resulted in their outgrowing and reduction of grain quality. These adverse phenomena can be observed in winter triticale and rye, less frequently in oat, barley and wheat. Intense precipitation and high moisture content of the grain delay the time of harvest. Many fields are waterlogged, which is a great obstacle for the machines to enter and begin the harvest. Moreover, high humidity levels create a risk of fungal diseases of crops.

Report prepared by:

Dr hab. Andrzej Doroszewski, prof. nadzw.

Dr hab. Rafał Pudełko

Dr Katarzyna Żyłowska

Mgr Piotr Koza

Mgr Elżbieta Wróblewska