Moisture reserves remained favourable for dormant winter
crops, though many key southern growing areas remained devoid of a protective
snow cover.
Widespread precipitation — rain in the south and snow in the
north — maintained adequate to abundant moisture reserves for spring growth.
Temperatures averaged 2 to 6°C below normal in the region’s
key winter wheat areas from central and southern Ukraine into southern Russia,
though these same areas remained devoid of a protective snow cover.
At week’s end, snow cover (2-20 cm) extended from northern
Ukraine and Russia’s Central District east into the Volga District as well as
northern portions of the Southern District.
Key winter wheat areas in the southwestern Southern District
remained exposed to potential incursions of bitter cold.