Surface water conditions have not yet been critical, but are approaching to the lowest records ever measured in March. Water discharges attained only 35 % of the LTA. It is expected that unfavourable condition for the start of spring and growing period will intensify due to the lack of snow cover in the hilly and mountainous region.
The amount of groundwater is very low as well. On the flat gravel - sand aquifers the amount of ground water attained only nether 10 percent of LTA. Slovenian Environmental Agency warns to rational consumption of water sources. Improvement of condition can be expected only after several months at average amount of precipitation.
Agricultural soils are the driest at south-west part of Slovenia. Drought conditions are recorded also at north-east of the country. On the Littoral water balance of dormancy period has already been negative while in the north east of the country it results not above 20 % of LTA.
For the next 10 days weather forecasts that the lack of precipitation will continue. Air temperatures are expected to be rather higher than normally. That will reflect on higher evaporation rate and even worsening of groundwater and soil conditions. It is estimated that the situation would normalize only by evenly distributed rainfall of 100 to 200 mm with regard to the location.
More information is available at: http://www.arso.gov.si/novice/datoteke/027998-Su%C5%A1a%20-%20situacija%2013.3.2012.pdf (in Slovenian language). (March 14, 2012)