Much-Needed Rain Approaches Europe

By Evan Duffey, Meteorologist

Apr 15, 2012; 6:55 AM ET

Parts of the U.S. aren't alone in their drought, southern Europe has been struggling to receive rainfall of late.
After an active winter, southern Europe has seen much less than their normal precipitation since March 1. Precipitation from Romania to eastern Germany has been less than 30% the normal precipitation during the time period, while much of the rest of central and eastern Europe has been under 50% of normal.
This is impacting many important agricultural areas, like grape growing regions in France and Germany, as well as more standard crops, especially hay, which rely heavily on early season precipitation in order to get seedlings going.
Luckily for the region rain is on the way, just in time to moisten the ground for planting season.
The first storm to reach the region with enough moisture to begin breaking down the drought is just arriving to the continent this afternoon, local time.
A series of storms should impact the continent the next couple of days, with widespread rainfall coming to excessively dry parts of the continent.
While the heaviest precipitation will occur with a storm moving through eastern European over the next couple of days, a flurry of storms can be expected over the next week.
A long string of storms will be good at bringing relief to the area, as steady rain over a longer period of time is more easily absorbed by the ground, as compared to a quick heavy burst, which will run-off, and can instead lead to flooding.

Much-Needed Rain Approaches Europe