Cooler weather returned, accompanied by widespread rain
and snow in western and southern portions of the region.After last week’s warmth, near- to below-normal temperatures (up to 4°C below normal) ensured winter crops remained dormant and resistant to freeze injury across all but southern-most growing areas.
However, weekly average temperatures were below 5°C even in southern Ukraine and the Southern District — save for the immediate Black Sea Coast — indicating southern winter wheat was easing toward dormancy.
A fresh snowfall blanketed winter crop areas early in the period, though somewhat warmer conditions during the latter half of the week eroded the snow depth and coverage; at week’s end, snow was shallow (2-10 cm) and mostly confined to central and northern Russia.
Early-week rain and snow (10-50 mm, liquid equivalent) over the southern half of the region hampered late corn harvesting in Ukraine but maintained abundant moisture reserves for winter crops.