In general, crop condition was above average in most parts of the continental Western European MPZ during this reporting period, favoring winter crop grain filling and spring crops growth, especially maize flowering. Figure 2.5 presents an overview of CropWatch agroclimatic and agronomic indicators for this MPZ.

The total precipitation was 5% above average, with exceptional negative departures in RAIN over most of Spain and southwestern France from the middle of April to mid-June, northern Italy from early April to late April, and most other areas (except Spain and southwest of France) in the middle of June. TEMP was  mostly average (+0.1°C departure); below average temperatures were observed in most of Italy and northeast of France from April to early June and again at late June, and in most of the Western Europe MPZ (except Spain and Italy) in the middle of April and May and late June. Sunshine was significantly below average at -5%.

Due to the adequate rainfall and favorable temperature, the biomass accumulation potential BIOMSS was 5% above the recent five-year average. As shown in figure 2.5, the lowest BIOMSS departures (-20% and below) occur over most of Spain, northern Italy, and northeast of Germany, especially in the east of France, which was affected by floods in May. In contrast, BIOMSS in most other regions was 10 percent above average.

According to the VCIx map, crop condition was below average in the south and east of Spain, northwest France, the northern part of Italy, and north and south Germany. Average VCIx for the MPZ was 0.91. The fraction of cropped arable land was 97% across the MPZ, which is 1 percentage point above the five-year average; most uncropped arable land is concentrated in the southeast and northeast of Spain. Areas with low minimum VHI values were partially scattered in Spain, France, and Germany. Generally, crop condition in Western Europe was favorable.

Figure 2.5. Western Europe MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, April 2016 - July 2016

a. Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles                        b. Profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm)  

c. Spatial distribution of temperature profiles              d. Profiles of temperature departure from average (°C)

e. Maximum VCI                                                        f. Cropped arable land

g. Biomass accumulation potential departure            h. VHI minimum