Drew Lerner, Author at World Weather

North China Plain, Yellow River Basin In Growing Need Of Rain

Kansas City, June 25 (World Weather Inc.) – While a lack of significant rain was welcome for winter wheat harvesting in recent weeks, there is a growing need for timely rain in portions of China’s North China Plain and central Yellow River Basin. Precipitation has been spotty for these areas in recent weeks with some receiving more significant rain than others. While no major production impacts are suspected as of now, continued dryness in coming weeks may promote uneven coarse grain, oilseed, and cotton development. These areas will have a few opportunities for spotty rain during the coming week, though portions of Henan, Shandong, and neighboring areas will continue to dry down. Northeast China has ample moisture to support aggressive grain and oilseed growth. Localized flooding will remain a concern near and south of the Yangtze River.

Canada Prairies Need Warmer Weather; Some Areas Too Wet

Kansas City, June 25 (World Weather Inc.) – Much of this year’s planting of pulses, grain, oilseeds and other crops has been completed, but getting the last of the crop into the fields is becoming more challenging due to more active weather that has some parts of the region becoming too wet. Temperatures have been cooler than usual during much of the spring, as well, and the combination wet and cool conditions has raised some concern over crop development rates. Canada’s growing season is much shorter than that in the United States and crops need to develop and mature quickly to avoid a threat of early season frost and freeze damage. Additional rain is forthcoming over the next seven days, but there is hope that a ridge of high pressure expected over parts of North America a week from now will bring a change for Canada including less rain and warmer temperatures.

Central Russia Flood Potentials Increasing

Kansas City, June 24 (World Weather Inc.) – Areas near and east of Russia’s Ural Mountains received the most significant rain in the former Soviet Union during the past week. The ground is saturated and additional rain is on the way through the middle of next week. Flood potentials will increase and may damage crops and infrastructure. Other areas in Russia and Kazakhstan will either have enough moisture or receive enough rain to maintain favorable conditions for spring and summer crops Portions of Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic States will dry down through the middle of next week, though dryness will not be an immediate concern as long as timely rain returns in July.

Limited Drought Relief To Follow Western Europe Heatwave

Kansas City, June 24 (World Weather Inc.) – Western Europe’s heatwave has been nothing short of amazing the past few days with extreme temperatures in France ranging from 105 to 116 Fahrenheit (41-45C). Southern England reached above 100 (38C) Wednesday afternoon and a few similar readings have occurred in western Germany, northern Italy and Spain. The impact has been horrific on human and animal health with some deaths reported. Drought was already under way across France before the heatwave began and crop conditions that were rated favorably in late May and early June have deteriorated greatly. The hottest weather will shift to the east later this week and into the weekend before abating next week and in the following weekend. Unfortunately for the drought-stressed crops of France, southern parts of the United Kingdom and immediate neighboring areas, the scattered showers and thunderstorms anticipated as the heat abates will be much too erratic and light to change drought conditions leaving crops still at risk of greater production cuts.