Slovenia
Score moved 3 → 4 (minimal impact → moderate impact). “Potato growers count the cost as a warm, dry summer bites into yields”
Slovenia's potato growers are reporting markedly lower yields after a summer of drought, with Al Jazeera describing how 'the drought has left its mark' on the crop. Reanalysis data for 9 July–6 October 2026 shows rainfall about 35% below the 1991–2020 normal and mean temperatures around 3.0°C above normal, a combination that would intensify soil-moisture loss during the May–September growing season. Seasonal outlooks for the coming winter point to a snow and precipitation pattern still being resolved, so the recovery of soil moisture and the 2027 planting window remain uncertain.
201.1 mm vs 308.3 mm normal
Reanalysis shows rainfall for 9 July–6 October 2026 running about 35% below the 1991–2020 normal, consistent with the drought impacts reported in Slovenia's potato fields.
News source20.93°C mean vs 17.89°C normal
Mean temperatures over the same window ran about 3.0°C above normal, an anomalously warm signal that likely intensified evaporative stress on crops.
The May–September growing season stayed on schedule, but the warm, dry late-summer conditions cut yields in drought-sensitive crops such as potatoes, with harvest quality and size expected to be uneven.
NASA POWER (MERRA-2) reanalysis, 9 Jul 2026 – 6 Oct 2026, sampled at the country centroid (46.1°, 14.8°). Normals are 1991–2020. How this is computed
When it matters
Agricultural calendar for Slovenia and where the El Niño impact window falls
Last 12 months vs normal
Observed monthly rainfall against the 1991–2020 climatology
Sector by sector
Potato and other shallow-rooted crops suffered yield losses as the warm, dry late summer depleted soil moisture during the May–September growing season.
Below-normal rainfall through early October likely reduced river flows and reservoir recharge, raising pressure on irrigation and municipal supplies ahead of winter.
Prolonged heat and dryness likely increased heat-stress risk for outdoor workers and could affect water quality and food availability, though no health outcomes are cited in the articles.
Reduced river discharge can trim hydropower output, while warmer-than-normal conditions may have lifted summer cooling demand.
Warmer water temperatures and lower summer flows in Slovenian rivers may have stressed cold-water species such as trout, though no fishery impacts are reported in the supplied articles.
What happened last time
Past El Niño episodes and how Slovenia responded. See the full ENSO timeline →
2023-24
El Niño-influenced warmth and uneven rainfall produced drought stress in parts of Slovenia, affecting summer crops and water reserves.
unsourced background2015-16
A strong El Niño contributed to warm, dry summer conditions across Central Europe, with crop yield shortfalls reported in Slovenia and neighbouring countries.
unsourced background1997-98
One of the strongest El Niño events on record was associated with anomalous warmth and dry spells in the region, though direct Slovenian impacts are less well documented.
unsourced backgroundLatest coverage
RSSTrump's 'super intelligence' push sparks surge in demand for Slovenia's .si domain
Drought Leaves Its Mark: Slovenia's Potato Harvest Falls Short After Warm, Dry Summer
Slovenia's potato growers are reporting markedly lower yields after a summer of drought, with Al Jazeera describing how 'the drought has left its mark' on the crop. Reanalysis data for 9 July–6 Octobe
Indonesia may soon lose its last glaciers
Weather Whiz: October 4
Winter 2026/2027 Snowfall Explorer: See the Latest Forecast for Your State and Region
Nearby
Neighbouring countries