This dataset represents the observed trend in maximum annual five day consecutive precipitation over Europe, between 1960 and 2015, during the winter season (December, January, February). Heavy precipitation events have become more intense and more frequent in Europe on average, but there are important differences across regions, seasons, time periods, heavy precipitation indices and underlying datasets. Studies generally agree that heavy precipitation has become more intense in northern and north-eastern Europe since the 1950s, even though not all changes are statistically significant. Different studies and indices show diverging trends for south-western and southern Europe. Heavy precipitation may lead to local surface water flooding in cities, therefore should be considered in adaptation planning. This dataset is used also in the EEA Indicator "Heavy precipitation in Europe": https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/precipitation-extremes-in-europe-3/assessment, which in the meantime has been updated.

The raster dataset (grid 0.25° x 0.25°) presents the trends in frequency of meteorological droughts between 1950 and 2012. Trends are based on a combination of three different drought indices - SPI (Standard Precipitation Index), SPEI (Standardized Preciptation Evapotranspiration Index) and RDI (Reconnaisance Drought Index) accumulated over 12-month periods. The dataset contributes to an earlier version of the EEA indicator "Meteorological and hydrological droughts": https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/river-flow-drought-2/assessment