The climatic and agroclimatic characterization of February

According to the long term means, in February, the insignificant increase of the air temperature begins  and comparing to January it is higher by 1-1,5ºC. The average monthly air temperature on the territory of the Republic of Moldova varies  between -1ºC in the Southern part of the republic  and  -3ºC in the Northern part. Since the beginning of instrumental measurements the coldest February was in 1929, when the average monthly air temperature varied between -12,2ºC (Comrat) and -13,7ºC (Dubăsari). The warmest February was in 2002, when average monthly air temperature oscillated between +3,7ºC (Briceni, Camenca, Bălţi ) and +5,5ºC (Cahul).

The average daily air temperature during February oscillated between -21– -23ºC (1937) and +10 – +13ºC (1990). The absolute minimum of the air temperature in February constitutes -32,1ºC (Bălţi, 20 February, 1954), and the absolute maximum – +23,3ºC (Tiraspol,  26 February, 1990 ).

The monthly quantity of precipitations in February  on the territory of the country constitutes in average 23- 50 mm, and the number of days with precipitations oscillates between 10 and 14. The highest monthly quantity of precipitations in February since the beginning of observation period reached 139 mm (Vulcăneşti,1969), the daily one – 70 mm (Goieni,  1999). The precipitations are mainly in the form of snow. The average decadal thickness of the snow layer varies on the territory of the republic between 3 and 11 cm, the highest thickness in some days  on the meteorological platform reached 73 cm (Leova, 2004).

Fogs (in average 2-7 days), snow storms (in average 1-2 days), glazed frost and ice deposits (in average 2-6  days) and icy roads (in average 10 days) are specific for February

Among the risk meteorological phenomena the most dangerous are heavy snowing - in average once in 5 years. Snow storms and storms may be recorded in average once in 7 years and severe glazed frost and ice deposits - in average once 10 years.

In February the autumn crops and the multiannual plantations are generally in vegetative repose state. 

In February the minimal average temperature of the soil at the tillering node depth  a constitutes 2,0-6,5°C below zero. The minimal temperature of the soil at the tillering node in February in the limits 15-18°C below zero and lower is recorded rarely, in average once in 10-20 years, and the temperature of 12ºС below zero and lower is recorded in average once in 5 years.

The number of days with warm temperatures is in average 15-19 days.

The fruit trees damage is more often recorded after long term warm periods that significantly reduce resistance of the trees to frosts. Especially dangerous are the warm periods from the second half of winter, as in this period the trees awake from the profound repose period and reassume their vegetation. According to the long term data, the sudden decrease of the air temperature up to 10-15°C below zero after the warm periods may cause the damage and even death of buds.

The weak frozen soil during winter gathers a lot of water – namely in this period the main soil humidity reserves are formed.

In early springs the resumption of the autumn crops vegetation  may take place at the end of February (18-23 February). In such springs the swelling of tree buds may be recorded  at the end of ebruary (22-27 February).

Chief MCMC                   T. Bugaeva

  Chief AFC                      T. Mironova