Recent Rain Bolsters Topsoil Moisture in France
By Jared McWilliams
Kansas City, May 5 (World Weather Inc.) – Recent rainfall has improved soil moisture conditions throughout France and into southern Germany during the past week to ten days. The rain was timely in relieving some dryness issues that were increasing throughout France prior to the rain in late April. The rainfall should quickly improve winter crop development and planting p
rospects for spring and summer crops. The wet weather bias will continue over France during the next week to ten days helping further bolster topsoil moisture.
Recent weather conditions have improved crop outlooks over western Europe and France during the past week to ten days. The greatest rainfall has occurred from southern France through southern Germany and northern Italy’s Po River Valley. Resulting moisture totals during the ten-day period ending May 5 have ranged from 1.25 to 3.00 inches and local totals exceeding 4.00 inches in and around the Alps in northern Italy and western Austria. Beneficial rain has also occurred over northwest and north-central France where moisture totals have ranged from 0.50 to 1.50 inches. In the meantime, rain has occurred over the Iberian Peninsula, but rainfall has been too erratic and light in most locations to improve conditions. The only exceptions are a few locations in extreme southern Spain in cotton production areas where some heavy rainfall resulted in totals varying from 1.00 to 2.50 inches and an extreme exceeding 6.00 inches. Flooding was reported in association with some of that rain near the central south coast of Spain.
The weather conditions have resulted in the recovery of topsoil moisture in France while most locations in central and southeastern Spain are 
still experiencing dryness and greater rain will still be needed in the coming weeks. Improved wheat and rapeseed production potentials and planting prospects for other spring and summer crops have resulted in France. The rain has also been beneficial in Germany where soil moisture is favorable for crops as well. However, the frequent rain has resulted in conditions becoming too wet in portions of northern Italy.
During the coming week, beneficial rain will continue to improve soil moisture conditions throughout France and improvement in northern Portugal and northern Spain will also take place. Some areas in south-central to east-central France may actually become too wet late next week into the weekend of May 13-14 and some flooding may evolve. An additional 0.50 to 2.50 inches and local totals exceeding 3.00 inches will occur by this time next week and soil conditions will become saturated in much of France. In the meantime, restricted precipitation will continue to occur over the United Kingdom. Precipitation that does occur will be brief and erratic mid- to late-week next week. Temperatures should remain mild enough that soil moisture conditions will remain adequate enough to support crops.
The only area that will continue to have a poor outlook over western Europe will be portions of central into southeastern Spain. Southeastern locations will be left driest during the coming week to ten days and dryness will increase, especially as temperatures warm up during the latter portions of the next ten days. Rainfall will continue to be infrequent in central Spain as well although some precipitation will occur at times and some isolated improvements will occur. A widespread soaking of rain would be welcome and be more beneficial to the region.
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