Rain and snow further eased drought in
Ukraine and western Russia, while warmth favoured winter wheat development in
southern Russia.
Another round of rain and snow (5-30 mm
liquid equivalent, locally more) continued to alleviate the vestiges of autumn
drought from central Ukraine into Russia’s Central District.
While not enough to completely eradicate
lingering 90-day deficits, the precipitation provided additional much-needed
moisture for late winter wheat establishment in the still-vegetative southern
growing areas.
However, weekly average temperatures below
5°C expanded southward into central Ukraine and the northern Southern District,
indicating winter wheat in these areas was now dormant.
In addition, a shallow snow cover (2-10 cm)
was now on the ground from eastern-most Ukraine into southern portions of the
Central District as well as the northern Southern District.
Meanwhile, winter wheat in southern Russia
developed favourably under sunny skies and above normal temperatures (5-8°C
above normal); in the Krasnodar Oblast in the southwestern corner of Russia’s
Southern District (a key wheat producer), most stations have received over 100
mm of rainfall since October 12, supporting good prospects for winter wheat
establishment.