Winter crops in Ukraine remained in dormancy during the first decade of January

During the first decade of January, Ukraine experienced uneven temperatures across its territory accompanied by significant precipitation, largely influenced in the southern regions by an active southern cyclone. There were heavy showers transitioning to snow, ice coating, and slippery conditions. Winter crops across the country remained in a state of winter dormancy throughout this period, according to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center.

In the western and northern regions, atmospheric fronts caused severe weather conditions, including rain, freezing rain, heavy snow, blizzards, snow drifts, icy surfaces, and wind gusts reaching 15–24 m/s.

In the second half of the decade, the intrusion of Arctic air led to a substantial drop in air temperatures, falling 8–10°C below normal. Minimum temperatures across most of the country dropped to –15 to –20°C.

The spatial distribution of average decadal air temperatures showed a sharp contrast from south to north — positive anomalies in the south (3–4°C above normal) and negative anomalies in the north and northwest (2°C below normal).

No threatening phenomena for the overwintering of winter crops and fruit trees were observed. Minimum soil temperatures at the depth of the tillering node (3 cm) for winter crops and perennial grasses dropped to –3 to –9°C. In Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Chernivtsi, and Zakarpattia regions, soil temperatures reached only –1 to –2°C, well above the critical freezing point for crop damage.

Tags: Ukraine, crop condition