21.08.2018
Hydrometeorological and agrometeorological information of 17 August, 2018
In the coming weekends, weather conditions will be determined by influence of warm, moist unstable air masses from the Ukraine. Erratic weather conditions with intermittent thundery rains are expected, however rains will be spread unevenly throughout the country and with varied intensity. Temperature will rest elevated. At the beginning of the week (Monday-Tuesday, 20-21 Fugust) weather patterns will not change significantly. Precipitations with increase of atmospheric pressure will stop by the end of the working week, temperature will be substantially different between south and north parts of the country.
At the beginning of third decade of August decrease of water levels will be registered on most of the rivers in Belarus.
As at 17 August, according to data of state network of hydrometeorological observations, there is balanced running of water levels and its small decrease with the intensity 1-12 cm per day on the rivers of the Republic.
Unfavourable conditions for river transport are observed on the Zapadnaya Dvina near Vitebsk, on the Neman near Grodno, on the Dnieper near Mogilev, Zhlobin and Rechitsa, on the Berezina near Bobruysk, on the Sozh near Krichev and Slavgorod, water levels here are below the marks that limit shipping. Water levels are close to marks that limit shipping on the Berezina near Svetlogorsk, on the Dnieper near Loev and on the Sozh near Gomel.
Predominance of elevated temperature regime coupled with deficit pf precipitations caused loss of moisture especially from topsoil. 10 cm soil layer is in a weakly-moist state in most of the country. Topsoil is dry in some areas of Gomel and Mogilev regions, in the north of Brest region and in the west of Vitebsk region. It makes difficult soil treatment for winter crops and winter rape sowing. Past rains of mid-August refilled moist content in soil mainly in north-western half of the country. Intermittent rains did not influence significantly completion of spiked cereals harvesting, working time of combines could be reduced in Vitebsk region only.
Because of reduction of moist content in soil, decline in root crops growth was registered. In this, weather conditions contribute to increase of root crops sugariness. Maize ripening is registered 1,5-2 weeks in advance in southern and western parts of the Republic. It is optimum time for harvest of maize for silage.
In the coming days, expected intermittent rains refill moisture content in soil but not everywhere. Moisture deficit remains in some areas and still makes it difficult to sowing and emerging of winter rape, late agricultural crops harvesting.
