June 2002 

WEATHER BRIEFS

Canadian Prairies:  Cold Weather And Some Dryness Raise Questions For Crop Prospects

During most of May 2002, unseasonably cold weather plagued the Prairie Provinces of Canada, keeping soil temperatures too cold to support germination of spring grains and oilseeds.  Weekly temperatures averaged 2 to 8 degrees C below normal.  Precipitation was also well below normal, adding negative pressure on 2002 Spring Crop prospects.  The driest areas are eastern Alberta and the northern part of the growing region in Saskatchewan.  Moisture conditions in southwestern Alberta, British Columbia, and southern Manitoba are closer to normal.  During the week of May 26 through June 1, 2002, warmer weather returned to the Prairies, but the region remained too dry.  However, appreciable amounts of precipitation arrived in southern Alberta, central Saskatchewan, and southern Manitoba last week, and the rain continued through the weekend.  The moisture was excessive in some places in southern Alberta, but it should have assisted recently planted spring crops become established in previously dry parts of the prairie. 

Italy:  Heavy Rainfall Should Favor Wheat and Summer Crops Across the Po Valley

During the first two weeks of May 2002, rain covered the Po Valley and northern Italy, providing moisture for reproductive winter grains and emerging summer crops, but likely caused localized flooding.  Northern Italy, including the Po Valley benefited from drier weather during the next two weeks.  However, during May 19 through June 1, wet weather returned to northern Italy, slowing fieldwork and possibly causing additional flooding.  Weekly amounts ranged from 10 to 60 millimeters.   From June 2 – 8, somewhat drier weather  (less than 25 millimeters) eased wetness across Italy’s Po Valley, allowing for fieldwork to resume.  However, the rest of northern Italy received more showers (20-60 millimeters or more), slowing fieldwork.

China: Warm Weather and Recent Rainfall Favor Summer Crop Establishment In the Northeast 

In April and early May, widespread showers (5 – 25 millimeters per week) and unseasonably warm temperatures (2 to 3 degrees C above normal) favored summer crop planting and emergence in Northeast China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces).  Frost was confined to the northernmost growing areas and posed no problem this year.  During the last two weeks of May, clear and very warm weather raised evaporation rates and hastened summer crop planting progress.   High temperatures exceeded 30 degrees C on several occasions, and newly emerged crops may have suffered from stress, especially in western and southern crop areas. Toward the end of the month, a frontal passage brought beneficial showers and cooler weather to Heilongjiang, but Jilin and Liaoning remained mostly dry.  Finally, widespread moderate-to-heavy rain (amounts exceeding 25 millimeters) fell across the Northeast during the weekend of June 8-9, providing a welcome boost of moisture for emerging and vegetative summer crops.

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