Dryness Relief Slated For East Ukraine, Parts Of Russia
By Andrew Owen
Kansas City, June 30 (World Weather Inc.) – Eastern Ukraine, neighboring areas in Russia’s USDA defined ‘Southern Region” and portions of the lower Volga River Basin experienced warm temperatures and below average precipitation in recent weeks. Net drying resulted with many locations in the region experiencing short to very short topsoil moisture recently. An improving 
environment will occur during the next week to ten days as several disturbances track near or across the region. Resulting rainfall will help bolster soil moisture and promote better growth conditions. Portions of Russia’s Southern Region will not receive enough rain to completely fix the moisture deficits and additional precipitation will be needed. In the meantime, other areas west of the Ural Mountains will continue to dry down during the next seven days.
Areas from eastern Ukraine through the lower Volga River Basin and into portions of both Kazakhstan and the northeast Ural Mountain region reported below average precipitation during the month of June. Rainfall varied from 25% to 75% of normal with a few areas reporting less than 25%. The remainder of the western Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) received near to above average precipitation during this time with portions of western Russia receiving 1.5 to 2.0 times normal rain.
Despite the periods of timely rain in portions of the ‘Southern Region’ and Ukraine earlier this month, net drying occurred over the past seven days. Many areas received little to no rain of significance while daytime temperatures often surged into the 90s Fahrenheit. Topsoil moisture was rated short to very short earlier this week raising the potential for a little crop stress soon if it has not 
already begun. Subsoil moisture is still rated favorably in most locations, which has helped keep the majority of winter, spring and summer crops deal with the drier environment a little easier. Some moisture and heat stress developed in recent days, but a little rain in the next week to ten days would likely be sufficient to restore production potentials.
Soil conditions in the remaining production areas of the CIS are rated favorably. There are pockets of dryness in the Eastern New Lands and for areas immediately west of the Ural Mountains, although the ground is not excessively dry. As long as timely rain returns in the next few weeks, crop growth rates will remain favorable.
The drier biased locations in Russia’s Southern Region and Ukraine produce a significant amount of corn, barley, sunseed, and sugarbeets, among other grains and oilseeds. Yields are still expected to be favorable for these locations despite the recent dry and warm weather as long as predicted rain in this coming week occurs as suggested.
Scattered showers will produce timely rain from eastern Ukraine through Russia’s ‘Southern Region’ into Saturday with a few lingering showers Sunday. Brief periods of light rain will return at the beginning of next week before dry weather evolves again during the middle and latter part of next week. Rain totals ending next Thursday morning will range from 0.75 to 3.00 inches with several pockets receiving 5.00 inches or more of rain. Temperatures will continue to warm into the 80s and 90s on a near daily basis.
The improved rainfall will help bolster topsoil moisture to more adequate levels just in time to support crops through another short term bout of drier biased conditions. A more significant bout of rain will be needed so that crops will not turn stressfully dry as quickly between rain events.
Western Russia will also see a good mix of rain and sunshine during the coming week. The Volga River Basin will see varying rainfall will some locations receiving timely rain and others trending drier than normal. Dryness will not be a major concern for the region as long as timely rain returns later in July.
Russia’s eastern New Lands and areas immediately west of the Ural Mountains will only see brief periods of light rain through the end of next week. Moisture reductions will continue in most locations. The ground will trend too dry by the end of next week to promote the best environment for the crops. Timely rain will be needed later in July to keep the ground from trending excessively dry and potentially stressing the crops.
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