Unsettled, unseasonably warm weather persisted over the
region, melting the vestiges of snow cover and accelerating
southern wheat out of dormancy.
Precipitation for the week
totaled 5 to 30 mm, much of which was rain, over most major
growing areas.
As a result, soil moisture reserves remained
adequate to abundant for spring growth.
Temperatures for
the week averaged 5 to 10°C above normal from northern
Ukraine into central Russia, melting the remnants of snow
cover and reducing winter crop cold hardiness.
Farther
south, temperatures averaged more than 10°C above normal
for much of the week from southeastern Ukraine into
southern Russia, with daytime highs reaching into the lower
and middle 20s (more typical of readings observed in mid- to
late-April).
The second consecutive week of abnormal
warmth caused winter crops to begin greening-up in the
Krasnodar Krai (located in southern-most portions of the
Southern District) more than 5 weeks ahead of average.
However, colder air returned to southern Russia toward
week’s end, slowing the unseasonably early crop
development.
While the recent spring-like warmth has not
been detrimental to winter wheat, the early development and
lack of protective snow cover has left crops more vulnerable
than usual to potential incursions of late-winter or early spring
bitter cold.
(We are still seeing snow in Central Russia, albeit slowly melting in warm wet conditions, but it does illustrates how remote reports like this are not always accurate, for that you really need boots on the ground, see our Crop Tour page)
