Mild, mostly dry weather sustained favourable overwintering conditions
for wheat and barley, though southern growing areas remained devoid of snow
cover despite the arrival of colder air.
High pressure provided sunny skies along with near- to
above-normal temperatures (locally up to 5°C above normal) from Belarus and
northern Ukraine into northern Russia, with winter wheat remaining dormant
under a shallow snow pack (2-10 cm) in Ukraine and more than 25 cm of snow in
Russia.
Farther south, early-week rain (1-10 mm) in Russia’s
Southern and North Caucasus Districts sustained favourable soil moisture reserves
for spring growth, but crops remained devoid of snow cover from central Ukraine
into southern Russia.
Despite the arrival of somewhat chillier air (locally more
than 3°C below normal) in the Southern District, night-time lows of -15°C or greater
did not pose a risk for freeze damage or winter kill.