Snow cover in Eastern Europe expected to help protect crops from winterkill

摘要

Rains increased across north central Germany, north eastern France, and the southern UK last week, with snow noted in most of eastern Europe. The snow there is helping to build snow cover, which will protect wheat and rapeseed from winterkill. However, significant dryness continues across much of Spain and northern Italy, and dryness is also building in southern and western France. Temperatures will continue to cool across most areas this week, and additional snow is expected across far southeasternEurope. Also, some showers should return to north central Italy. Snow cover remains extensive across most winter wheat areas in the CIS countries, which is helping to protect the wheat crop against winterkill as colder temperatures occur. Drier conditions should prevail in most areas throughout this week, and even colder conditions should move into the region in the next few days as well. Some spotty winterkill will be possible in far south central Ukraine, where snow cover is irregular.