Abnormal heat and drought: crop at risk. The influence of weather on agriculture in the European and Asian parts of Russia.

European Part

In the territory of the Northwestern, Central, and Volga Federal Districts, unusually warm and dry weather was observed. The maximum air temperature reached 26...29°C, and in the southern territories of the Central and Volga Federal Districts, it reached up to 30...32°C. The minimum air temperature dropped to 4...10°C. Over the decade, the average air temperature exceeded the norm by 3-8°C (only in the east of the Orenburg region and in the southern areas of Bashkortostan, it was close to the norm). There was almost no precipitation, only in some northwestern and northeastern regions, there were 5-15 mm of rainfall. In most areas of the Central Federal District, the situation with atmospheric drought reached crisis levels.

The harvesting of agricultural crops continued. The conditions for harvesting were favorable. However, conditions for sowing and emergence of winter crops significantly deteriorated due to the drying of the topsoil caused by lack of rainfall and ineffective moisture evaporation. In the southern areas of the Central Federal District, where soil drought continued, conditions for sowing winter crops were unfavorable. Winter wheat and rye, sown in August - early September, were at stages of grain germination, emergence, and leaf formation. The plants were in good condition.

In the Southern and North Caucasus Federal Districts, LNR, DNR, Kherson, and Zaporizhia regions, hot weather persisted (up to 30...35°C during the day). The average air temperature during the decade exceeded the norm by 3-5°C. There was virtually no precipitation over most of the territory. However, in the western areas of the Krasnodar region, specific areas of the Republic of Crimea, and the North Caucasus republics, there were some rains (15-30 mm and more), which reduced the tension due to drought and improved conditions for soil preparation and emergence of winter crops.

Soil drought persisted in the Rostov, Volgograd, Kherson regions, Stavropol Krai, Ingushetia, and on the pastures of Kalmykia.

The harvesting of late cereals, sunflower, sugar beets, vegetables, and fruit crops continued. In most days, the conditions for harvesting were favorable. However, agrometeorological conditions for soil preparation and sowing winter crops in most regions were not very favorable due to lack of soil moisture. In the northern regions, winter crops continued to be sown in dry soil. According to the weather service of Debaltsevo (DNR), the death of winter wheat seedlings due to drought was noted.

Asian Part

In the agricultural areas of the Urals and the western part of the Siberian Federal Districts, the air temperature rose, and the rains stopped. The situation with agrometeorological conditions for the harvesting campaign improved and became satisfactory.

The average air temperature during the decade was 2-4°C below the norm, and in the Urals, it was close to the norm. The maximum air temperature reached 18...22°C. On the coldest days, air frosts of -3...-1°C were noted.

In the east of Western Siberia and in most areas of Eastern Siberia, the average air temperature was almost universally 2-4°C below the norm. On the warmest days, the air temperature reached 14...18°C. In most areas, there were air frosts of -5...-1°C for 2-3 days, which could damage unharvested grain and vegetable crops. According to the weather service of Khomutovo (Irkutsk region), corn seedlings were affected by frosts. Rains almost stopped and lasted for 2-4 days (a total of 5 to 20 mm of rainfall and more in some places). In the Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Tomsk regions, Krasnoyarsk Krai, and Khakassia, the soil remained too moist, which was extremely unfavorable for fieldwork. According to local agricultural departments, in the Novosibirsk region, 29.5% of the sown areas of grain crops were destroyed (an increase of 11% due to emergencies), in the Tomsk region, 42% was harvested according to plans, vegetables - 9% according to plans, in the Kemerovo region, 43.4% of grain and legume crops, 12% of potatoes were harvested and partially threshed. In the Omsk and Kemerovo regions, grain of spring wheat and oats was noted to germinate in the ground. In the Republic of Khakassia (Tashtypsky district), on September 16, according to the weather service, there was an early appearance or formation of snow cover up to 1 cm high.

In most agricultural areas of the Far Eastern Federal District, the weather was unstable. Almost universally, except for the extreme south, frosts of -7...-2°C were observed, and in Transbaikalia, they reached -12...-10°C, which could damage spring crops left unharvested. The maximum air temperature reached 22...27°C, and in northern agricultural areas - 17...19°C. The average air temperature for the decade was 2-3°C below the norm.

In the first half of the decade, there was no rainfall in the agricultural areas of the Russian Far East, and the conditions for harvesting were satisfactory. In the second half of the decade, rains (5-15 mm) fell in the southern regions, worsening the conditions for harvesting and completing the formation of the late row crops.

Agrometeorological Forecast for the Third Decade of September 2024

European Part

Favorable conditions for harvesting late row crops will continue in the European part of Russia. Dry and very warm weather is expected in the Central Black Earth region, with soil drought intensifying. Rains are forecasted in the Krasnodar Krai and the North Caucasus republics, which will slightly improve the conditions for soil preparation for sowing winter crops.

Agrometeorological conditions for soil preparation and sowing winter grain crops for the 2025 harvest will be satisfactory. However, due to lack of rainfall, conditions for emergence will be moderately favorable due to drying of the topsoil in some fields.

Asian Part

In the Ural Federal District and the western part of Siberia, agrometeorological conditions for the harvesting campaign will improve and become satisfactory.

In Eastern Siberia, conditions for harvesting spring crops will remain moderately favorable due to rains and high air and soil humidity. In Eastern Siberia and Transbaikalia, damage to grain crops from frosts is possible if they are not harvested in time.

In the southeast of the Far Eastern Federal District, conditions for