Unusual drought at Balaton: August soils already now? 🌵

On the southern shore of Lake Balaton, the soil is already as dry as if it were the end of August. According to the latest agrometeorological data, a moisture deficit of 140 millimeters has developed in the upper one-meter soil layer above Budapest and the southern region of Balaton. This deficit has accumulated over the past years, and the recent showers have not brought any significant relief. In the settlements around Lake Balaton, especially along the southern shore – in the area of Siófok, Lelle, Zamárdi – the condition of unirrigated gardens, vineyards and arable lands is deteriorating rapidly. The entire growing season of row crops took place under drought conditions, and in many places the soil moisture content does not even reach 30 percent of the water usable by plants. No widespread, soaking rain can be expected in the next 6-8 days, only scattered showers. This situation directly affects locals and holidaymakers alike. Due to the dry, dusty soil, gardens, parks and green areas dry out faster, while the large temperature fluctuations – 28-30 degrees during the day, dropping below 4 degrees in some places at dawn – put a strain on both plants and people. From the perspective of tourism on the Balaton shore, there is no direct disruption yet, but if the drought persists, it could also affect the quality of the beach surroundings and the supply of local agricultural products. 🌵💧

Source: met.hu