The coldest weather of the season settled over the region.
A strong cold front generated rain and wet snow over western
and southern Russia as well as neighbouring portions of Ukraine and Belarus.
The moisture, which totalled more than 25 mm (liquid
equivalent) in key winter wheat areas of southern Russia, was overall
beneficial for vegetative winter grains and oilseeds.
However, temperatures behind the cold front averaged up to
5°C below normal, with the coldest conditions (night-time readings of -10°C or
lower) in northern-most growing areas likely hastening winter crops into
dormancy.
Even with some snow and cold, winter wheat in Russia’s Southern
and North Caucasus Districts was not yet dormant.
In Ukraine, despite the changeable and unsettled weather, mostly
dry conditions in north-central parts of the country facilitated corn and
sunflower harvesting.
In contrast, winter wheat in southern Ukraine benefited from
10 to 25 mm (locally more) of rain.
Across the remainder of Russia, an early-season snowfall
halted spring wheat harvesting in eastern portions of the country, while a
sharp cold snap ended the growing season east of the Volga District.