At the beginning of February, there was a gradual decrease in temperatures, starting from positive values and reaching freezing on most days. The average air temperature for the first ten days in the region ranged between 0.4 and 2.6 degrees below zero, which is one degree higher than the usual level. The lowest ground surface temperature reached 10-12 degrees of frost.
Throughout this period, there were no significant precipitations, with total amounts ranging only from 0.4 to 4 mm. By the end of the decade, the soil froze to a depth of 8-15 cm. The maximum frostiness of the soil in layers where the roots of winter wheat are located averaged from 3 to 6 degrees below zero, which does not pose a threat to the crop.
The winter crop is in a state of superficial winter dormancy without any signs of stress or damage.