European part
In August 2016, in the Central and Northwestern Federal Districts very warm weather conditions dominated with shower rains of varying intensity. In most days, the average air temperature exceeded the standard by 2-5°C, on some days - up 6-7°, only in the second ten-day period of August there was some cooling, and the average temperature was close to standard or lower by 1-3°. Domination of very warm weather activated ripening processes of spring grains in northern raions of the territory; grains reached its full ripeness at the end of the second - early third ten-day periods in most part of the Northwestern Federal District, which already started harvesting works. Growth of sugar beet roots and formation of the harvest of late crops (corn, buckwheat) in the southern part of the Central Federal District continued developing throughout in the reporting month in rather satisfactory conditions. But in some periods, in the south-east of the Central District the weather conditions worsened due to dry winds, high air temperature (+30...35°C) and soil temperature at the depth of 10 cm (+27...29°C). In the third ten-day period of August, some southern raions of the District started harvesting sunflower seed, corn and sugar beet. The agrometeorological conditions for harvesting works in most days of the month were good and satisfactory. However, in the second and late third ten-day periods the conditions significantly worsened due to heavy rains and hails. In most raions of the Districts the precipitation level in August exceeded the monthly standard by 40-70% and more. Some raions received precipitation at 130-200 mm, up 2-3 times compared with the monthly standard. Such raions faced large-scale waterlogging of the soil and stalks of grain crops, which slowed down all crops harvesting works, and increased the risks of grain losses.
In the Volga Federal District, very hot and mostly dry weather conditions dominated (+30...36°C in daytime, in some raions in the south-east - +37...40°C), which activated ripening processes of late grains and early spring crops of late planting terms. In some raions of the south-eastern half of the District, there was observed atmospheric and soil drought, and dry winds, which worsened further formation of the harvest of late crops and arable crops. During the whole month, weather conditions for harvesting works were favorable. In mid-August in the northeast of the Central, east of the Northwestern, and north-eastern part of the Volga Districts, and at the end of the month throughout the whole territory of the above mentioned Districts, there were the optimum terms for planting of winter grain crops for the harvest-2017. The agrometeorological conditions for planting works were satisfactory. In some raions of the western half of the territory, the weather conditions for crops planting somewhat worsened, due to heavy rains. In the south-east of the Volga District, there were rather discouraging conditions due to low (11-15 mm) and poor (5-8 mm) moisture deposits in the topsoil layer. At the end of the month, rains somewhat filled up moisture deposits in the soil, and weather conditions for crops planting even improved.
In the Southern and North Caucasian Federal Districts, mainly hot weather conditions dominated (+31...35°C in daytime, in eastern raions - +37...40°C). There were mostly heavy rains which extremely uneven distributed throughout the territory. In Stavropol Krai and the Republic of Dagestan, there were hails which damaged crops. In most raions, the precipitation level reached 25-40 mm, in some south-western raions - 80-110 mm, and in the east the precipitation level varied at the minimum level (less than 20 mm). In some north-western raions of Krasnodar Krai, there were little rains. In most raions, the weather conditions for ripening of late spring grains and arable crops were satisfactory, but in the raions with low level of precipitations - scarcely favorable. Agrarians completed harvesting grain crops in August in favorable conditions. In the third ten-day period, corn and sunflower seed ripened at the fields of early planting terms, and agrarians started harvesting the crops.
In most raions of the European part of the Russian Federation, the agro-meteorological conditions will be mostly satisfactory for realization of the harvesting campaign in September. The weather conditions for planting of winter crops for the harvest-2017 will be almost close to the long-term average level.
Asian part
In the Ural and Siberian Federal Districts, there were observed unstable weather conditions in August. In the second ten-day period, in most raions the temperature indices reached its maximum level, when the average air temperature exceeded the standard by 4-8°, on some days in the Ural District - up 9-12°. On some days, the maximum air temperature in the Ural District increased to +28...35°, and on August 13-18 on some days it exceeded the absolute temperature maxima for the reporting days. Ripening of crops developed at growing rates, which increased shriveling of grain crops. In most raions of the Siberian District, the average daytime temperature varied within +24...27°C, on some days - +29...31°C, and in southern raions of Zabaykalsky Krai - +33...35°C. In most raions of the Ural District, the precipitation level varied within 25-35 mm, and in Western Siberia - 50 mm. So, the agro-meteorological conditions for beginning of the planting campaign of winter grains were mainly satisfactory. In the second ten-day period, in most raions of the Ural District and in southern raions of the Siberian District early spring crops reached full ripeness (standard terms), and in the third ten-day period, in more northern raions crops reached such level of ripeness. Agrarians started the mass harvesting campaign of the crops.
In some agricultural raions of Eastern Siberia, the weather conditions for ripening of late spring grains were unfavorable due to rains (in August – 55-80 mm, sometimes - over 100 mm), high air humidity, etc. In some raions of Krasnoyarsk Krai and Irkutsk oblast, there was observed lodging of spring crops. In the second half of August, in some raions there were observed frosts (to -4°C, in Zabaykalsky Krai - -8°C), but they were safe for spring crops in waxy ripeness stage.
In agricultural raions of the Far East, by mid-August early spring crops reached full ripeness stage. Agrarians started harvesting the crops. For almost half days of August, unstable weather conditions with rains were rather unfavorable for harvesting works; on some days in Khabarovsk and Primorsky Krais the daily maximum precipitation totaled 30-40 mm or more. In some raions, the monthly precipitation level exceeded the standard in 1.5-2 times or more. Therefore, in many cases the harvesting works took some pause, due to waterlogging processes. At the end of the month, in most raions the air temperature reduced (+13...16°C in daytime), and there were frosts in some raions of Amur oblast and Khabarovsk Krai.
In most agricultural raions of the Asian part of Russia, the agro-meteorological conditions for the grain harvesting campaign will be mostly satisfactory, as well as the conditions for planting of winter grains for the harvest-2017.
According to the Hydrometeorological Centre of Russia
