Drew Lerner, Author at World Weather

U.S. Spring, Summer Weather 2024 – A First Look

Kansas City, February 14 (World Weather Inc.) – Years of drought in North America may be drawing to a close, although conditions in the late spring and summer 2024 could turn out dry once again and warmer biased. There is potential for a final hurrah in this series of drought years that began in 2020. Some timely rain is expected during the spring, but a bout of heat and dryness may come around during the late spring and early summer that could quickly turn around a favorable moisture profile and create some stress. This pattern shows up in the lunar (18-year) cycle and could be enhanced by La Nina if it develops this year. There is still concern about the lingering effects of the Hunga Tonga Volcano to enhance a warmer temperature bias that is already expected this year.

Russia’s Winter Wheat Not Damaged By Bitter Cold

Kansas City, February 15 (World Weather Inc.) – Bitter cold temperatures impacted many western Russia locations in recent days. Winter grains and oilseeds were protected from the cold by ample snowpack and no winterkill was suspected. Overall production potentials remain favorable across the western Commonwealth of Independent States this year as most locations have adequate to excessive soil moisture. There is potential for spring flooding if warmer temperatures induce aggressive snow melt while a wet weather pattern prevails. Some damage to crops will be possible and early-season fieldwork may get off to a sluggish start if the wet pattern continues while snow is melting. A large section of the western CIS (including the most important wheat production region) will trend drier and warmer than normal through the middle of next week, but greater precipitation is expected once again in the following week.

Eastern Australia To Receive Rain; Heat Expected In The West

Kansas City, February 14 (World Weather Inc.) – Many areas in eastern Australia dried down significantly during the past week. Rain was generally light and erratically distributed, though pockets in Queensland received more significant rain. The outlook for most summer crops remains good despite recent drying. Early-planted crops are maturing or will be maturing in the near future with the harvest set to begin in March. Later-planted crops still need rain to support ideal late-season development. Eastern Australia will see a mix of rain and sunshine through the middle of next week that will maintain relatively good development conditions. In the meantime, Western and portions of South Australia will see excessive heat return soon causing stress to livestock.