Arctic cooling has become a real stress not only for people
The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center analyzed the weather conditions at the beginning of April and explained how they could affect the future harvest of certain crops.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a publication from the press service of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center on Facebook.
Also read: Ukraine will experience warming, but not without “surprises”: forecast for the week
Main points:
- Weather contrasts: the beginning of April was marked by abnormal warmth up to +25°C, which was replaced by Arctic cold and frosts starting from the 6th.
- Abnormal precipitation: along with the cooling, most regions experienced rain, icy hail, or even snow.
- Stress for plants: the sharp change in weather slowed the growth of some agricultural crops and, in some areas, halted their development.
- Threat to the harvest: early fruit trees (particularly apricots) in some regions could suffer the most from the weather “jumps”.
- Pause in the fields: due to bad weather and weak soil warming, farmers were forced to temporarily suspend the sowing campaign.
Features of the weather at the beginning of April
According to experts, during the first decade of April 2026, Ukraine experienced contrasting weather in terms of temperature and precipitation.
At the same time, the average daily air temperatures at the beginning of the decade:
- were 5-7°C above normal;
- corresponded to the indicators of the second half of April.
The maximum air temperatures in most regions, according to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, rose to 20-25°C.
When and how exactly the weather changed sharply
Ukrainians were reminded that the sharp change in weather conditions occurred in Ukraine starting from April 6 due to:
- the intrusion of cold Arctic air;
- the movement of an active cyclone.
At that time, strong cooling was observed – with night frosts almost in all regions of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the average daily temperatures dropped to levels 3-6°C below normal.
In addition, precipitation in the form of was noted across almost the entire territory of the country:
- snow;
- wet snow;
- icy hail;
- rain.
Agrometeorological conditions of the first decade of April 2026 in Ukraine (infographic: facebook.com/UkrHMC)
How winter and early grain crops developed
Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center specialists reported that at the beginning of the decade, the growth and development of winter and early spring sown grain crops occurred under favorable agrometeorological conditions.
Meanwhile, in the second half of the decade, conditions worsened (due to the sharp change in weather to extremely cold with frosts).
This situation affected agricultural crops:
- either slowed their growth and development;
- or caused a halt in growth and development.
“The accumulation of effective heat occurred slowly, resulting in weak vegetative processes only during the daytime,” the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center reported.
How the cooling affected fieldwork
According to specialists, the cold weather in the second half of the first decade of April, precipitation in the form of wet snow and snow, as well as weak soil warming:
- halted fieldwork;
- delayed the sowing of early spring grain crops.
Which crops were affected by frosts
Experts from the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center reported that the early development of spring processes this year led to extremely early flowering of apricots and early stone fruits:
- in the western regions;
- in the northern regions.
“Therefore, the frosts observed during the first decade and especially at the beginning of the second negatively affected the processes of flowering and pollination,” the press service of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center stated.
Ukrainians were explained that the plants were under stress.
“This will affect the future harvest,” specialists concluded.
Recall that we previously reported when in April the temperature rapidly dropped to -10 and where in Ukraine snow accumulated.
Meanwhile, meteorologists explained what April could be like in Ukraine in general.
Also read how the anticyclone Quirin will change the weather in Ukraine tomorrow.
