Cold, mostly dry weather prevailed, with some rain and snow in
the driest northern growing areas.
A strong area of high pressure brought sunny skies and
below-normal temperatures (1-4°C below normal) to most winter crop areas of
Ukraine and Russia.
Night time readings dropped below -10°C in central and
northern Russia as well as the higher terrain of the North Caucasus District, accelerating
winter crops into dormancy.
Somewhat milder conditions (night time lows of -5 to 0°C) in
southern portions of Ukraine and Russia’s Southern District allowed winter wheat
in these areas to remain vegetative.
Some light rain and wet snow (1-10 mm liquid equivalent) was
reported in the driest winter wheat areas, including northern portions of the Southern
District and southern-most portions of the Central District, though the past
week’s cold likely minimized the moisture’s benefit since crops in these areas
were approaching or entering dormancy.
Farther south, late-week rain and mountain snow (1-10 mm
liquid equivalent) maintained favourable winter crop prospects in the North
Caucasus and southern-most Southern District.