Ukraine. Abnormally warm weather with a precipitation deficit still persists

Weather conditions. Abnormally warm weather with a precipitation deficit was observed on January 11-20. The average air temperature during the ten days was 2.0-8.5ºС above normal and up 3.0-5.0ºС from the average on January 11-20, 2019.

Moisture supply. Precipitation in the form of rain, drizzle, sleet and snow occurred during the ten days. Its amount was at most 1-6 mm, or 20-39% of ten-day normal. The fields were free of snow towards January 20, insignificant snow cover (1 cm high) only built up in the western regions. As of January 20, the soil was frozen to a depth of 3 to 15 cm. Soil temperature at the tillering node depth of winter crops did not drop below -1-2ºС.

Crop condition. Abnormally warm weather with a precipitation deficit was not very favorable for survival of winter crops. As before, the beneficial factors included dull weather persisting during the ten days. Winter wheat plants neither grew nor advanced to next development stages, reports UkrAgroConsult.