In the European part of Russia, the weather was warmer than usual on most days between January 10-20. The average daily air temperature was mainly 5-7°C above normal, locally 8-12°C above normal.
Snowfall occurred almost everywhere (10 to 20 mm of precipitation over the ten days). The snow cover height in the fields increased, reaching mostly 25 to 40 cm towards January 20, even 50-60 cm and higher in the north of the territory. The depth of soil freezing did not actually change, varying mostly from 12 to 40 cm (locally reaching 60-80 cm and higher). Minimum soil temperature at the depth of winter grains’ tillering node (3 cm) was -3…-1°C, briefly falling to -7…-5°C in some areas.
The agrometeorological conditions were mostly fair for winter crops, reports UkrAgroConsult. Air and soil temperatures did not drop to crop-threatening values. Conditions conductive to rotting out of winter crops persisted in some areas.
Air temperatures in the Southern and North-Caucasian federal districts were above normal, too. They rose mostly to 2…5°C in the daytime, sometimes to 8…10°C, and dropped to -3…0°C at night. Precipitation occurred in the form of rain, snow and sleet. Precipitation rates over the ten days totaled mostly 20-25 mm, locally 35-40 mm and higher. In the northern half of the territory, winter crops were under 20 to 40 cm of snow. The soil has frozen to a depth of 10-20 cm. The wintering conditions for crops were quite fair.