The current precipitation deficit now exceeds the deficit in May 1976, the driest year ever recorded. That is stated in the drought monitor issued by the National Water Distribution Coordination Committee (LCW) on Wednesday. The current precipitation deficit is 120 millimeters.
However, this does not mean that 2020 will be the driest year ever. The precipitation deficit is tracked from April to September and can therefore become even smaller or larger.
In 1976, the precipitation deficit reached 361 millimeters. The current deficit is therefore far below that, but in mid-May the precipitation deficit in 1976 was therefore smaller than the current deficit.
The LCW expects the precipitation shortage to continue to increase in the next two weeks. Friday and Saturday could have some rain showers in the Netherlands, but that rainfall is limited to a few millimeters.
In Germany and Switzerland – the Rhine basin – 10 to 25 millimeters of rain can fall on Saturday, which in the long term will affect the supply of river water in the Netherlands. This is followed by dry weather in the catchment areas of the Rhine and also the Meuse.
Local streams dried up due to drought
The precipitation shortage leads to very low groundwater levels, especially on the higher sandy soils in the eastern and southern Netherlands. Locally, streams have dried up.
Irrigation bans have been introduced in several places in the south and east, and this is earlier than usual, according to the LCW.
Some water boards in the west of the country inspect quays for any cracks that may be caused by the drought.
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