The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) has forecast maximum temperatures on the North China Plain will reach 20 to 22 degrees Celsius before the end of the month, a few degrees above normal. However, cooler than normal weather is forecast to return to the region in early April.
Widespread light to moderate rainfall (up to 2 inches) covered most winter wheat provinces since March 1, and late-winter snow brought welcome moisture to northern and western production areas. Total precipitation from March 1 - 21 was higher than normal and last year. The cool and moist conditions have eased drought concerns and slowed soil moisture evaporation, thus reducing the demand for supplemental irrigation.
A crop condition assessment conducted by Cngrain.net (with the Chinese Academy of Sciences) in early March found that 57 percent of the wheat crop was rated equal to last year, 13 percent was worse, and 30 percent was better than last year. Seedlings in Henan and western Shandong were showing signs of stress due to relatively low rainfall over the winter and low amounts of surface soil mositure. On the other hand, the wheat crop in northern Anhui and Jiangsu was rated much better than last year, when the two provinces suffered from a "thousand year drought