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Weather

World crop and weather highlights

Below are links to National Weather Service world climate maps courtesy of the NWS Climate Prediction Center. Clicking on a link will open a map in a new window.

Last updated: March 17, 2010

Temperatures in much of the Prairies were 1 to 7 degrees Celsius above normal this past week. Only in a pocket of southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan were temperatures normal to slightly below normal. Daily high’s ranged from -5 to +10 degrees Celsius, causing the accumulated snow to begin melting. Overnight low’s ranged from -25 to -5 degrees Celsius east to west. Snowfall amounts continued to be modest, with most areas reporting between 1 to 10 mm water equivalent moisture. In western parts of the Prairies the precipitation fell as rain, increasing the rate of snow-melt.

Above normal temperatures continued in the PNW for the fifth consecutive week. Higher than normal temperatures also continued in the northeastern regions. Most of the rest of the U.S. experienced below normal temperatures, with the greatest departure from normal occurring in the southeast. Temperatures have been warming across the country as to be expected for the season. The warm temperatures are encouraging more winter wheat in the Southern Plains to break dormancy. Light precipitation (5-25 mm) fell in parts of the Central and Southern Plains, allowing fieldwork to progress in much of the Southern Plains. Soil moisture remains adequate for most areas. Light to moderate rain (15-55 mm) fell along the Gulf States and the southeastern regions. For the most part, the eastern Cornbelt was dry allowing the thick snowpack to melt. The snowpack continues to recede, but in the north excess moisture continues to limit any fieldwork.

Moderate to heavy rains (25-115 mm) fell in La Pampa and western Buenos Aires. In the central growing regions of Cordoba and Santa Fe some light rains (10-30 mm) fell. Entre Rios and central Buenos Aires experienced minimal rains (1-10 mm). Temperatures were 1 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal. Daily high’s ranged from 25 to 40 degrees Celsius. The lower rainfall amounts in the south did not cause any moisture shortage as the soils were sufficiently saturated from earlier rains. The relatively dry conditions in central areas allowed substantial corn harvest to resume again. Currently, 30 to 45 per cent of the corn is now harvested in central regions. The first soybean harvest is beginning due to the favourable harvest weather.

In the north and northeast regions, moderate to locally heavy rains (25-100 mm) continued. In the south center-west, southeast, and southern regions, continued below average amounts of rain (5-30 mm) allowed harvest to progress rapidly. There is still sufficient soil moisture for second-crop corn to continue emergence and vegetative growth without problems. Temperatures were normal to 1 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal in Brazil last week. Daily high’s were in the thirties in most growing areas. The moisture and warm temperatures benefitted vegetative soybeans and corn in the north of Brazil last week. The continued rains in the northeast further boosted soil moisture supplies.

Moderate to heavy rains (25-100 mm) continued in southern New South Wales (NSW) last week, and spread into Victoria and South Australia. Lesser amounts fell in northern NSW and Queensland (5-25 mm). The majority of Western Australia was without precipitation. Temperatures were 1 to 5 degrees Celsius below normal, with the exception of Western Australia where temperatures were average to 5 degrees Celsius above normal. Daily high’s ranged from 20 to 33 degrees Celsius in the east to 34 to 39 degrees Celsius in Western Australia. The high temperatures and lack of rainfall has led to continued soil moisture reductions in Western Australia. The rains in Victoria, NSW, and South Australia replenished soil moisture levels.

Mostly dry conditions allowed the excess moisture to drain in Western Europe last week, however, a cold snap limited early spring fieldwork and may damage the crops that broke dormancy earlier in France and the UK. Temperatures dropped 3 to 8 degrees Celsius below average. Overnight low’s plunged below -5 degrees Celsius in the UK and much of France, while minimum temperatures broke a new record in Germany last week, reaching -10 to -15 degrees Celsius. Daily high temperatures were between 0 to 10 degrees Celsius in Germany, and 5 to 15 degrees Celsius in France and the UK.

Moderate to heavy rains (25-100+ mm) fell in Italy and Greece, while lesser amounts (5-50 mm) fell in Spain last week. Cold temperatures prevailed in southern Europe, with deviations 3 to 8 degrees Celsius below seasonal values. The highest deviations were reported in northern Spain where minimum temperatures dipped below -5 degrees Celsius. Maximum temperatures were generally between 5 and 20 degrees Celsius.

The last cold snap might affect the crops in the southern UK, southern France, and northern Spain, while Germany is still covered by an adequate snowcover. The cold is also delaying any spring fieldwork, including spring barley planting in northern Europe, and corn plantings in southern Europe.

Cold temperatures covered Eastern Europe last week, while light precipitation (2-20 mm water equivalent) was reported in much of the region. Heavier amounts of rainfall (25-100 mm) were confined to the southern Balkans, including Bulgaria and the former Yugoslavia. Temperatures were 3 to 7 degrees Celsius below normal across Eastern Europe. Daily maximum temperatures ranged between 0 to 5 degrees Celsius in the north and 5 to 12 degrees Celsius in the south. Overnight low’s plunged below -5 degrees Celsius and reached -10 to -20 degrees Celsius in the northern areas.

The cold weather might impact the crops in the south, which have already broken dormancy, and delay the spring fieldwork including corn planting in central Europe.

Substantial precipitation fell in western Russia, while mild conditions continued in much of the western winter growing areas last week. Light snowfall (5-25 mm water equivalent) fell in the Central and Volga Districts, and heavier amounts (25-75 mm water equivalent) were reported in the Southern District. Temperatures were slightly below normal in the western Oblasts and normal to slightly above normal in the rest of the region. Daily high’s were mostly above the freezing mark and reached 5 to 15 degrees Celsius in the Southern District. Overnight low’s ranged between -25 and 5 degrees Celsius from the north to the south.

The cold Siberian air mass dissipated, allowing a warm air-mass to cover eastern Russia last week. This change was accompanied by substantial snowfall in the region. Precipitation was light and locally moderate (5-50 mm water equivalent), with the greater amounts reported in Siberia. Temperatures rose more than 10 degrees from the previous week, reaching 1 to 5 degrees Celsius above seasonal values. Daily high temperatures were generally between -5 and 5 degrees Celsius, and reached 5 to 10 degrees Celsius in eastern Siberia. Overnight low’s were mostly between -30 to -15 degrees Celsius, with the lowest temperatures reported in Siberia.

Continuous precipitation in the Southern District hampered spring fieldwork, while in the northern Oblasts, fresh snow continues to maintain a consistent snowcover, providing adequate frost protection and increasing moisture supplies for the upcoming spring season.

Cold weather delayed spring fieldwork in the western Ukraine, while frost is likely to impact winter crops in the east and the south last week. Temperatures dropped dramatically across the country reaching 1 to 7 degrees Celsius below seasonal values, with the highest deviations reported in the western areas. Overnight low’s plunged in all regions reaching below -5 degrees Celsius in the extreme south, and –20 to -15 degrees Celsius in central Ukraine. Daily maximum temperatures were generally above the freezing mark, but remained below 5 degrees Celsius. No significant snowfall was reported in the country and the accumulated precipitation was generally below 10 mm of water equivalent moisture.

Cold temperatures hampered fieldwork in the south and contributed to more ice crust formation in the western growing areas. The snowpack is still thick across the northern two thirds of the country, which will delay the spring crops’ planting.

Warm temperatures and substantial precipitation benefitted the upcoming spring crops in Kazakhstan last week. Light precipitation (5-25 mm water equivalent) covered much of the key growing areas, and heavier amounts (25-100 mm) fell in the eastern part of the country. Temperatures were 1 to 8 degrees Celsius above seasonal values, with the highest deviations reported in the south. Daily high’s ranged between -2 to 5 degrees Celsius in the northern half of Kazakhstan, and 5 to 20 degrees Celsius in the southern half. Overnight low's were between -25 to -15 degrees Celsius in the north-central region.

Moderate precipitation (25-100 mm) fell in southeastern China for the second week. The southern winter wheat growing regions received 10 to 25 mm. Light precipitation (5-15 mm) was common across the remainder of the country. Temperatures across the bulk of China remained 1 to 7 degrees Celsius below normal. Daily high’s ranged between 0 to 10 degrees Celsius in the northern region, and 20 to 25 degrees Celsius in southern China. Overnight low's continued to drop below freezing as far south as Hunan and Fujian. The cold temperatures in the south and center regions limited wheat growth, and some minor freeze damage is likely. The unseasonable snowfall in the northeast will delay fieldwork.

A few scattered showers (1-5 mm) fell across northern wheat growing regions of India last week. Temperatures were 3 to 7 degrees Celsius above normal. Daily high's were generally between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius. In the south, the hot and dry conditions aided the wheat harvest. In the north, the high temperatures and limited precipitation further raised irrigation demands for the wheat in the heading and filling stages. As the heading and filling stage is sensitive to moisture and heat stress, more substantial rains are needed.

Light to moderate rains (10-40 mm) fell in the northern wheat growing regions, while showers and light rains (1-15 mm) fell in the southern Punjab and Sind. Further north, outside of the primary wheat growing area, heavier precipitation continued (25-75 mm). Temperatures were 1 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal. Daily high’s ranged from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius from north to south. The hot and dry conditions in the south aided the wheat harvest. The increased moisture moderated the impact of the above normal temperatures.

Beneficial light to moderate rainfall in the Western Cape helped the soils to capture much-needed moisture for the winter wheat crops, while mostly dry conditions and warmer temperatures pushed the corn crops to ripen in the Free State and the North West. Dry weather also allowed the first corn cut and more wheat planting in the north. Light to moderate and locally heavy rains (10-100 mm) fell in the Western Cape, while scattered light rains (2-20 mm) were reported in the eastern Free State. Temperatures were normal in the North West, and 1 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal in Western Cape and Free State. Daily high’s were generally between 30 and 36 degrees Celsius in the Corn Belt and reached 35 to 40 degrees Celsius in the Western Cape. Overnight low's were above 10 degrees Celsius.

Substantial rainfall covered the entire Wheat Belt in North Africa last week, boosting the moisture supply at the most sensitive phase of the grain crops. Rainfall amounts were between 25 and 100 mm in the key growing areas of wheat and durum and 10 to 25 mm in the southern areas. Temperatures dropped to seasonal or slightly below seasonal values. Daily high’s were generally between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. Overnight low’s were above the freezing mark in all growing regions.

Rains were timely in eastern Algeria and Tunisia and will positively impact the yield potential this season.

Unseasonably warm weather continued, while dry conditions prevailed in Iran last week. Temperatures were 5 to 10 degrees Celsius above normal across the main growing areas. Daily high’s were generally between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius, and overnight low’s were above the freezing mark in all regions. The warm temperatures boosted the growth of the winter grain crops, which benefited from adequate soil moisture supplies so far.

Dry conditions prevailed in Syria last week, while above normal temperatures boosted the growth for the heading winter wheat and durum crops. Only 2 to 5 mm fell in the western parts of the country. Temperatures continued to be above normal, with deviations 6 to 10 degrees Celsius above seasonal across the country. Daily high’s were between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius, and overnight low’s were above 5 degrees Celsius. The growing conditions for cereal crops continues to be satisfactory across the country and calls for higher than normal yield potential.

Unseasonably warm weather continued in Turkey last week, while light to moderate and locally heavy rains (10-50+ mm) boosted the moisture supply across the northern half of the country. Mostly dry conditions prevailed in the south. Temperatures were 5 to 10 degrees Celsius above average. Daily high’s were generally between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. Overnight low's were above the freezing mark, except in the western portion of the Central Plateau which experienced just below freezing temperatures. Abundant soil moisture and warm temperatures maintained adequate growing conditions for grain crops across the country.