In early August, drought conditions remained stable and critical in most of Europe. The spatial extent of watch conditions increased in the Iberian Peninsula and Germany.
During this period, Europe experienced above-average temperatures, with a heatwave, hitting most of the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and central-eastern Europe.
According to the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) based on ERA5 data, in late July, negative anomalies are present in central and southwestern Europe, northernmost North America, central America, northwestern and central-eastern South America, central Andes, central and eastern Africa, Madagascar, and northernmost, central, southwestern, and southeastern Asia.
Additional information related to food security can be found on the European Commission's Anomaly Hotspots of Agricultural Production (ASAP).
