Warmer-than-usual weather dominated the European part of Russia on most days in January. Daytime air temperature reached -6…-2°C; mild thaw (0…2°C) was seen almost everywhere during 2-5 days. During cold-spells, air temperatures bottomed out at -15…-10°C, even at -25…-20°C on some nights.
Snowfall occurred almost everywhere. The snow height is mostly within 30 to 50 cm, locally up to 60-80 cm and higher in the Middle Volga regions.
The depth of soil freezing is mostly within 12 to 40 cm (locally down to 60-80 cm and deeper). The lowest soil temperature at the depth of winter grains’ tillering node (3 cm) was -3…-1°C, locally even reaching -9…-5°C. Winter crops were not exposed to dangerously low air and soil temperatures.
In the south (Krasnodar, Stavropol regions), snow cover melted in most fields on January 18-20. Winter crops grew throughout most of January 21-31.
The agrometeorological conditions were mostly fair for the survival of winter crops, reports UkrAgroConsult.