September 2000
The maps above compare soil moisture levels during the
2000 growing season with the 1999 season. The Balkans (Hungary,
Romania, Serbia, and Bulgaria) have been unfavorably dry since
late winter. Widespread drought and record high temperatures
covered almost the entire area of eastern Europe by June. The
drought lasted until July in the north (Poland, Czech Republic
and Slovakia) and through August further south. While fall
planted crops managed to survive fairly well under the poor
weather conditions, spring planted crops did not. The vast
majority of corn grown in eastern Europe is in the Balkan
countries of Romania, Hungary, Serbia and Croatia, where the most
severe drought occurred. Although temperatures across eastern
Europe moderated in July, the drought continued in the south and
extreme heat returned to the Balkans in August. The withering
corn crop developed ahead of schedule due to the excessive heat.
Harvesting should now be underway in the southern regions.