Unseasonable warmth
rapidly depleted much of the region’s snow cover and reduced winter crop cold
hardiness.
Temperatures for the
week averaged 5 to 11°C above normal, causing snow to rapidly melt from
southern and eastern Ukraine into Russia’s North Caucasus District.
Though winter wheat
was now exposed to potential incursions of bitter cold, nighttime low temperatures
(-5 to -1°C) were well above the threshold for freeze damage.
While wheat remained
dormant in most growing areas, daytime highs approaching 20°C in southern-most
portions of Russia reduced crop cold hardiness and may have encouraged early
greening.
Despite the
widespread warmth, winter grains were still covered by a moderate to deep
snowpack (10-25cm) from central Ukraine into Russia’s Volga District.
In addition, light
to moderate rain and late-week wet snow (5-30 mm, liquid equivalent) maintained
abundant soil moisture reserves for spring growth.