In the third decade of February 2026, Ukraine experienced unstable weather with noticeable temperature fluctuations, but conditions for winter crops remained generally safe, ProAgro Group reports.

According to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, the average daily air temperature during the period ranged both above the climatic norm by 2–5°C and below it by 3–5°C. At the beginning of the decade, an anticyclone influenced weather conditions, causing minimum temperatures in most regions to drop to –17…–23°C.

Later, with the arrival of warmer air masses, the weather became milder for the end of February with only minor precipitation. As a result, the average temperature for the decade in most regions remained close to the long-term norm.

During the period, precipitation occurred in the form of snow, sleet, rain and drizzle, while icing and slippery conditions were observed in some areas. Strong gusty winds were recorded in parts of western and southern Ukraine.

Winter crops remained in a state of deep dormancy. The minimum soil temperature at the depth of the tillering node (around 3 cm) ranged between 0 and –5°C, and locally in Kirovohrad and Kharkiv regions dropped to –6…–7°C, which is still above the critical freezing threshold.

However, in many fields in Poltava and Kharkiv regions, as well as in some areas of Kirovohrad and Dnipropetrovsk regions, a ground-level ice crust persisted for the fourth consecutive decade. Its thickness ranged from 2 to 28 mm, reaching 33–42 mm in some areas of Kharkiv region and covering 10–100% of field areas.

Experts note that the further condition of winter crops will largely depend on weather patterns in early spring and the rate of snowmelt.

Earlier it was reported that during the second decade of February weather conditions in Ukraine were also unstable, while winter crops across the country remained in a state of deep dormancy.