The drought will affect several areas in Romania this year, due to the low level of precipitations. This phenomenon will mostly appear in Moldova and Banat regions, most of Dobrogea, Crisana and Transylvania, and in Southeastern Oltenia, according to Gratiela Gavrilescu, Minister of Environment, Water and Forests.

“This is triggered by the low level of precipitations recorded recently, especially in May,” said Gavrilescu, cited by local Agerpres.

Moreover, July and August will bring high temperatures and low rainfall, according to weather forecasts.

“If these estimations are confirmed, we can think of an increased and extended draught, especially in July and August, in most of the country. The biggest deficits in soil moisture will be in the South, South-East, East and West regions, where the pedological drought may be extreme,” the minister added.

The pedological drought is a phenomenon that refers to a significant deficit in the soil moisture. It has a negative impact on agriculture.

Severe drought also hit Romania in 2012, damaging crops and causing lower outputs for the country's hydropower plants.

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Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: freeimages.com)