Long term drought conditions over Europe remained stable in mid-March. North-eastern Europe continues to be affected by the recent meteorological drought, while in central Europe recent meteorological drought recovered.
Temperatures were above average, with short warm spells in north-eastern Europe.
According to the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) based on ERA5 data, in late February, negative anomalies are present in central-eastern Europe, central-eastern North America, southern and central-eastern South America, most of Africa, central-eastern Asia, and south-eastern Oceania.
Additional information related to food security can be found on the European Commission's Anomaly Hotspots of Agricultural Production (ASAP).
