April 2002

WEATHER BRIEFS

Northwestern Africa:  Rain Benefits Morocco Grains, East Becomes Dry 

For the most part, drought continued across Morocco and Algeria (western and central areas) during February 2002.  However, rainfall became rather frequent and widespread across Morocco beginning the week of February 24 through March 2.  During March weekly rainfall amounts were generally 10 – 25 millimeters and in some areas exceeding 50 millimeters across Morocco.   This rainfall was very timely for Morocco’s winter wheat crop, which entered the heading stage during mid-March.  The week of March 17 – 23 was the only dry week during March across Morocco.   Rainfall was generally lighter across western Algeria, but more frequent during March than were the rains of January and February.  While the west became better suited for crop development thanks to the March rains, eastern Algeria and Tunisia remained dry, resulting in a continued deterioration of crop conditions.  By the beginning of April 2002, winter grains were advancing through the reproductive stages of crop development.  Temperatures were seasonal in the eastern growing areas, but in the west, above normal temperatures at the end of March increased crop water demands. 

 Middle East:  Showers Improve Winter Grain Prospects

 During February, warmer than-normal weather helped to ease winter wheat out of dormancy earlier than usual and accelerated vegetative growth rates, except in the coldest locations of Turkey and Iran.  Rainfall in February was near to below normal, although timely mid- and late-month showers benefited vegetative to reproductive winter crops in southeastern Turkey, Syria, and Israel.  Scattered showers brought local relief from long-term dryness in sections of Iran, even though the northwest was still too dry.  During the first ten days of March, unseasonable warm, dry weather dominated the Middle East.  Showers swept across Turkey, Syria, and Israel during the week of March 10 – 16.   Widespread showers improved winter wheat prospects across the Middle East, including western Iran, during late March 2002 and the first week of April, with most areas recording 10 to 25 millimeters or more of total rainfall.  During the first week of April, temperatures averaged near to below normal in the wettest locations, but freezing temperatures were confined to Turkey’s Anatolian Plateau and the higher elevation growing areas of western Iran.  Crop development ranged from vegetative in these traditionally cooler locations to reproductive and filling elsewhere.  Winter grain harvesting usually lasts from April in the warmest areas through June and July in the colder spots.  Planting of irrigated summer crops, including cotton, is likely underway throughout the region. 

 China:  Dry March Weather Necessitates Supplemental Irrigation For Wheat Crop

 February 2002 was highlighted by seasonably dry but abnormally warm weather across the North China Plain (NCP).  Temperatures averaged 4 - 6 degrees C above normal and prompted winter wheat to break dormancy earlier than normal.  March weather was also mostly dry and warmer than normal across the NCP, although light rain provided some moisture for winter wheat early in the month.  During the first week of April 2002, widespread rain benefited vegetative winter wheat and increased topsoil moisture for early summer crop planting on the NCP.  Heavier rain also favored winter wheat across the western wheat areas of Shanxi, Shaanxi, and southern Inner Mongolia.  Recent light to moderate rain boosted topsoil moisture for spring wheat and summer crop planting in Manchuria.  Temperatures continued to average well above normal across the North China Plain and Manchuria in early April. 

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