Europe

Cold, unsettled weather persisted over much of the continent, maintaining mostly favorable conditions for winter grains and oilseeds. Early week snow changed to a mixture of snow, freezing rain, and rain from northeastern France into most of eastern and southeastern Europe. The arrival of mild air toward week's end melted much of the region's snow cover, with depths averaging 2 to 10 cm across Germany, Poland, and the Balkans. Meanwhile, widespread showers (5-40 mm) across Spain and Italy were beneficial for vegetative winter wheat. Elsewhere, locally heavy rain (up to 50 mm) in Greece hampered cotton harvesting, while rain in the United Kingdom maintained abundant soil moisture for dormant winter grains and oilseeds. Temperatures averaged 2 to 7°C below normal across the continent, although the coldest weather (-19 to -15°C in eastern Europe) was limited to areas with adequate snow cover.  

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CIS

Bitter cold posed a risk to exposed winter grains in Russia, while snow continued to fall across western portions of the region. Bitter cold weather arrived, threatening exposed winter grains in central and eastern growing areas. A strong artic high pressure system pushed the coldest air of the season in the region, with temperatures plunging to -18°C (locally as low as -20°C) in snow-free portions of the southern Volga District; the arctic blast likely caused some burnback or winterkill to winter wheat, which remained uncharacteristically devoid of a protective snowpack in much of central and southern Russia. The bitter cold was pushing into the Southern District, and northern portions of this key winter wheat region remained exposed to the elements. In contrast, a pair of storms maintained periods of snow (mostly rain near the Black Sea Coast) across western and southern portions of the region, with locally heavy snow (more than 30 cm) reported in the western Southern District, central Ukraine, and Belarus.
 

Middle East

Rain and high-elevation snow persisted in Turkey and Iran, favoring winter wheat and barley. Wet weather persisted across the region, maintaining favorable prospects for vegetative winter grains. Rain and snow in Turkey boosted moisture reserves for wheat and barley, while light to moderate showers (10-45 mm) favored vegetative winter grains from Syria into northern Jordan. In Iran, light to moderate rain and high-elevation snow was reported in key northern winter wheat and barley districts, while uncharacteristically heavy rain (10-40 mm) continued to boost irrigation reserves in southern Iran. Heavy rain (locally more than 100 mm) was also reported along the Caspian Coast, likely causing localized flooding but maintaining abundant soil moisture.
 

Norhtwest Africa

Sunny skies promoted wheat and barley growth following an extended period of wet weather. Dry weather returned to the region, promoting winter grain development. After an exceptionally wet autumn (200-300 percent of normal) in western growing areas, the sunny skies were welcomed for fieldwork and crop development. The dry weather also favored fieldwork in northeastern Algeria and northern Tunisia following last week's rain, although these locales have not been as wet (near-normal rainfall for the autumn) as their western neighbors. Temperatures averaged within one degree of normal for the week, with no untimely freezes reported.
 

East Asia

An early week cold snap helped harden wheat against extreme temperatures, while rain and snow late in the week boosted moisture reserves. Cold air became more established across winter wheat areas of the North China Plain as minimum temperatures dipped below -10°C early in the week. The cold weather promoted hardening of dormant wheat and made the crop less susceptible to potentially colder weather. By week's end, light rain and snow provided a beneficial boost to moisture reserves. Farther south, winter rapeseed remained vegetative in the Yangtze Valley, with the crop in the east approaching dormancy. Periodic rainfall (5-50 mm) during the week increased  

Southeast Asia

Drier weather aided recovery efforts in the Philippines, while seasonal rainfall maintained adequate moisture supplies for rice in Java, Indonesia. Drier weather aided recovery efforts across the southern Philippines in the wake of Super Typhoon Bopha. The remnants of Bopha meanwhile moved across the northern Philippines, producing locally heavy rainfall (100 mm or more). In Java, Indonesia, rainfall (50-100 mm) maintained favorable moisture supplies for rice in the west, while minor rainfall deficits continued in central growing areas. In eastern Java, where monsoon rains had yet to become established, seasonal (since November 1) rainfall was 60 percent of the long-term average. Oil palm across the remainder of Indonesia and Malaysia benefited from continued consistent rainfall between 75 and 150 mm.  

Australia

Showers benefited summer crops in eastern Australia but hampered winter grain harvesting in western and southeastern Australia. In Western Australia, unfavorably wet weather (10-25 mm or more) continued to hamper winter grain harvesting, increasing concerns about crop quality. Warmer, drier weather during the latter half of the week, however, helped fieldwork regain some momentum. In southeastern Australia, widespread showers (2-12 mm, locally more) interrupted winter crop harvesting, but the rain was generally short-lived, resulting in only temporary delays. Farther north, scattered showers (5-15 mm, locally more) fell across northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, providing a needed boost in topsoil moisture for vegetative summer crops. Temperatures in Queensland, northern New South Wales, and Western Australia were generally seasonable. In southeastern Australia, temperatures averaged 1 to 3°C above normal, with maximum temperatures near 40°C in some areas.  

South Africa

Widespread showers benefited rain-fed summer crops. Widespread showers benefited rain-fed summer crops throughout most of the region. Rainfall totaled 10 to 50 mm across much of the corn belt, with the heaviest amounts concentrated in central and western areas (North West, Free State, and Gauteng). The moisture was timely for germination and establishment of crops traditionally grown during the latter portion of the planting season. Lighter rain (below 10 mm) lingered in eastern farming areas of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, where seasonal rainfall has trended below normal. Weekly average temperatures were near to slightly below normal, with daytime highs reaching the upper 20s (degrees C) in eastern sections of the corn belt and the lower 30s farther west. Elsewhere, mild, showery weather continued in the rain-fed southern sugarcane areas of KwaZulu-Natal and, for a third week, unseasonable rain (10-50 mm) boosted irrigation reserves in climatologically drier agricultural districts of the Cape Provinces. An exception to this was in Western Cape, where mostly dry, unseasonably warm weather (weekly temperatures averaging up to 4°C above normal with daytime highs mostly in the middle and upper 30s) fostered development of irrigated tree and vine crops.  

Argentina

Lingering wet conditions maintained slow rates of summer crop planting and winter grain harvesting. Rainfall tapered off across the region, providing varying degrees of relief from recent weeks of excessive wetness. The heaviest rain (greater than 25 mm) was concentrated over Argentina's eastern farming areas (northeastern Buenos Aires to eastern Formosa), although moderate showers were scattered throughout other parts of the country. However, favorably drier conditions prevailed in southwestern agricultural districts (most of La Pampa and nearby locations in Buenos Aires and Cordoba) and northern production areas of Cordoba and Santa Fe that were recently inundated with heavy rain. Weekly temperatures averaged 2 to 4°C above normal throughout the region, with daytime highs ranging from the lower 30s (degrees C) in Buenos Aires to more than 40°C in the climatologically warmer north (Santiago del Estero northward). The warmer conditions aided the drying process and sustained rapid rates of development of summer grains, oilseeds, and cotton. However, an extended period of warmth and dryness is needed to allow fields to drain in the wettest locations. According to Argentina's Ministry of Agriculture, corn and soybeans were 70 and 73 percent planted, respectively, as of December 13. In addition, winter wheat was 45 percent harvested, down 13 points from last year.
 

Brazil

Widespread, locally heavy rain benefited soybeans and other crops throughout Brazil's main farming areas. Widespread, moderate to heavy showers maintained generally favorable levels of moisture for soybeans and other summer crops. Rainfall totaled more than 50 mm over large sections of southern and central Brazil, with most areas recording at least 25 mm. The rain in northern Parana and Sao Paulo ended a brief spell of dryness that reduced moisture for soybeans, corn, and sugarcane. The rain also brought some relief from unseasonable warmth (weekly temperatures averaging 3°C above normal with daytime highs reaching the middle 30s degrees C) that maintained high crop moisture requirements during the first half of the week. Elsewhere in southern and central Brazil, weekly average temperatures were 1 to 2°C above normal, with highs reaching the lower and middle 30s on a daily basis. Seasonable dryness continued along the northeastern coast, aiding cocoa and sugarcane harvesting. However, drier conditions extended westward in the soybean and cotton areas of western Bahia, where additional rain is needed to ensure proper crop development.

USA

Temperatures across much of the United States were warmer than normal during the week, with portions of the Rocky Mountains and Corn Belt more than 8°F above average. Conversely, portions of Colorado and New Mexico recorded temperatures as much as 10°F below normal. Widespread moisture in the Four Corners region boosted high-elevation snow packs and provided beneficial moisture for drought-stricken pastures. Dry conditions in the Southeast favored fieldwork, as producers harvested any remaining row crops and seeded small grains during the week. Despite moisture in the central Great Plains, much of the hard red winter wheat growing area remained dry.

Source - The Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin (WWCB) is jointly prepared by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.