Western FSU
Widespread, locally
heavy showers over key western and southern growing areas contrasted with
persistent heat and dryness in eastern portions of the region.
A stationary
upper-air disturbance was the focus for additional showers and thunderstorms
(10-60 mm, locally more than 100 mm) over Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, and much
of western Russia, benefiting reproductive to filling winter wheat as well as
vegetative to reproductive corn and sunflowers.
Farther south, heavy downpours
(30-100 mm, locally more) sustained adequate to abundant soil moisture for
reproductive corn and sunflowers in central and southern portions of Russia’s
Southern District, though the rain hampered winter wheat dry down and
harvesting.
In contrast, persistent heat (35-40°C) stressed late developing
winter wheat and summer crops in the southern Volga District, where yield
prospects for winter wheat, spring wheat, and summer crops are notably worse
than last year.
Eastern FSU
Dry weather returned
to the north, while seasonably dry, hot conditions prevailed in southern
portions of the region.
Following last week’s showers, sunny, warm weather (1-
3°C above normal) promoted the development of vegetative to reproductive spring
wheat in northern Kazakhstan and neighbouring portions of central Russia.
Despite the warmth, there was little - if any - heat stress due to a surplus of
soil moisture and daytime highs at or below 34°C.
In the region’s southern
tier, seasonably dry, hot weather promoted the development of recently
planted
cotton across Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, while additional showers (5-30 mm)
provided supplemental moisture to irrigated summer crops in the more easterly
growing areas of Kyrgyzstan.