Western FSU
Showers and thunderstorms boosted soil moisture for summer
crops and ended the recent heat in southern Russia.
Early in the period, daytime highs approached or topped 35°C
(locally as high as 37°C) over much of Russia’s Southern District, accelerating
corn and sunflowers toward reproduction.
However, timely showers and thunderstorms (10-55 mm, locally
more) later in the week boosted moisture supplies and signalled the end of the
brief heat wave, with daytime highs dipping below 35°C as corn entered the
temperature-critical tasseling stage of development.
Farther west, widespread albeit highly variable showers
(5-80 mm) maintained favourable soil moisture for corn, soybeans, and
sunflowers over Moldova and Ukraine, though short-term dryness has begun to
develop over parts of north-central Ukraine (10-25 percent of normal rainfall
over the past 30 days).
Meanwhile, dry weather promoted winter wheat drydown and
harvesting in southern portions of the Central District, while light to
moderate showers (2-40 mm) maintained good soil moisture for spring wheat
development in the Volga District.
Eastern FSU
Widespread rain developed over the region’s primary spring
wheat areas, while drier conditions settled over southern portions of the
region.
A slow-moving storm system brought a soaking rainfall (10-80
mm, locally more) to northern Kazakhstan and neighbouring portions of central
Russia, boosting soil moisture supplies for jointing spring wheat but hampering
seasonal fieldwork.
Farther south, drier, warmer weather was beneficial for the
development of irrigated cotton and also facilitated winter wheat harvesting in
Uzbekistan.