Drew Lerner, Author at World Weather

South Africa Rain Boost To Support Reproduction

Kansas City, February 6 (World Weather Inc.) – South Africa saw some spotty rainfall toward the end of January that was too light to significantly improve the moisture profile in portions of Free State, North West, and neighboring locations. Scattered showers ramped up in more recent days for much of crop country and will continue on a frequent basis for at leas the next seven to ten days. Eastern South Africa will continue to have ample moisture to support aggressive coarse grain, oilseed, and other crop development. Localized flooding may be a concern in a few pockets, though crop impacts should be minimal. The driest areas in western summer crop areas of South Africa will also receive enough rain to significantly bolster soil moisture and crops will react favorably as they move more deeply into reproduction and filling.

7-Day Rainfall

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7-Day Rainfall

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2025 Weather Outlook Series: Late Winter

Kansas City, February 3 (World Weather Inc.) – Weather in North America has been dominated by the 22-year solar cycle since 2020. That cycle brought a return to broad-based drought in portions of North America as it has numerous times in the past. The feature was accompanied by a classic multi-year La Nina event from 2020 to 2023 followed by a single year El Nino in 2023 and then neutral ENSO conditions with a La Nina bias in 2024-25. This period of weather also brought on the most prolonged and record strong negative Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) that has occurred from 2020 through today and ocean temperatures were unusually warm throughout the world in the past couple of years.

Russia, Ukraine Will Be Warmer Than Usual; No Crop Damage

Kansas City, February 5 (World Weather Inc.) – Several areas in Ukraine and portions of Russia’s USDA defined ‘Southern Region’ experienced drier than normal conditions in January. These areas were generally snow-free, leaving winter grains and oilseeds exposed to the weather elements. Precipitation will be limited through at least the middle of next week and snow-free conditions will persist for several fields. However, there is not a significant threat for winterkill as warmer than normal conditions are slated for the snow-free locations. Pockets in western Kazakhstan and southwestern Russia are also snow-free, though no impacts to the crops are expected. The main production areas have ample moisture in the soil to support aggressive growth this spring once seasonal warming brings crops out of dormancy.

Northern California Rain, Snow To Pause, But More Coming

Kansas City, February 5 (World Weather Inc.) – Impressive precipitation amounts, like those of the third week in November, have been impacting northern California since last Friday. Heavy rain and flooding along with significant mountain snowfall has occurred. The weekend was wettest, though rain Tuesday into this morning added greatly to some of the totals. Another brief break in the precipitation is expected this afternoon and early Thursday before more rain and snow evolve Thursday afternoon into Friday. A longer break in the precipitation will then occur during the weekend and early next week before another bout of moisture arrives during mid-week next week and that one may spread rain and snow farther to the south. The wet bias will maintain concern over flooding and will build up the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada improving the runoff and water reservoir outlook for 2025.