Sunny skies prevailed over much of the region, promoting
fieldwork and winter crop development.
High pressure
extending from Scandinavia into western Russia
maintained dry, warm weather (2-5°C above normal) over
much of the region, promoting the development of
vegetative to heading winter wheat following recent
rainfall.
The sunny, mild conditions also favored corn and
sunflower sowing, though showers (10-40 mm) in western
Ukraine slowed soybean planting.
Despite the overall
good to excellent conditions for winter crops, a lack of
rain in north-central Ukraine exacerbated short-term
drought (25-50 percent of normal rainfall over the past 60
days), leaving soil moisture in short supply for corn
planting and emergence.
