Volume 101, no. 30, full report here.
Mostly dry,
hot weather persisted in Russia, while showers and thunderstorms further
boosted summer crop prospects elsewhere.
High
pressure remained centered over western Kazakhstan, maintaining sunny skies in
Russia and a warm southerly flow across the western two-thirds of the region.
Temperatures
averaged 2 to 5°C above normal in most growing areas, with daytime highs in the
lower to middle 30s (degrees C) causing some stress to reproductive summer
crops in southern portions of Ukraine and Russia.
In Russia, the heat was accompanied
by sunny skies, which accelerated winter wheat harvesting.
However,
the Rostov Oblast in the west-central Southern District has reported little - if any - precipitation since June 21, causing deteriorating yield prospects for
summer crops, in particular sunflowers.
In
contrast, the heat and humidity over Moldova, Ukraine, and Belarus was
accompanied by widespread showers and thunderstorms (10-50 mm, locally more),
which maintained excellent prospects for silking corn and blooming sunflowers.
Farther
east, dry albeit cooler weather (1-3°C below normal) prevailed in the
southeastern Volga District, promoting spring wheat maturation.