September Rain Arrives Too Late

In August, rainfall was generally normal across most of Croatia, except in the east where it was extremely dry. September rains, however, have arrived too late, prompting Vukovarsko-srijemska County to join Virovitičko-podravska and Koprivničko-križevačka counties in declaring a natural disaster due to severe drought. Reports of widespread damage stretch from the far east of Slavonia to northern Croatia along the Drava River, affecting the northern Croatian Pannonian Basin.

In Požeško-slavonska County, residents are facing drought conditions comparable to those of 2003, with the Orljava River’s streamflow critically low and many springs completely dry. Water usage has been restricted to essential needs, and irrigation systems are operating at minimum capacity to keep crops alive. Birds and rodents are damaging irrigation pipes in search of water, leading to leaks and further inefficiencies.

Zadarska County has reported a 26% increase in heatwave-related deaths and a rise in healthcare interventions. In Virovitičko-podravska County, heat-scorched trees are prematurely shedding leaves, and pest populations are growing. Meanwhile, new drone-based tree-planting technology, 3 to 5 times faster than traditional methods and suitable for hazardous terrain, is being used in Slavonija and is planned for coastal regions.