Snow thickness in Ukraine before the onset of the current strong frosts suggests that there is no serious threat to winter crops, especially wheat, Head of the agrometeorological department of the Weather Center of Ukraine Tetiana Adamenko has told Interfax-Ukraine.

"According to the data we have to date, there was almost no threat to winter wheat: the cooling was gradual and was accompanied by the sufficient snow cover," she said.

Adamenko recalled that snow thickness more than 5 cm reliably protects winter crops from temperatures up to minus 20 degrees Celsius, while for lower temperatures its thickness should reach 10 cm.

She said that according to the data at the disposal of the Weather Center, throughout Ukraine, except for the southeastern regions – Bessarabia, the southern districts of Kherson and Zaporizhia regions – the snow cover was sufficient.

"Winter wheat should survive these frosts perfectly. It was well developed and ready for winter," she said.

She added that there are some concerns regarding winter barley and rapeseed, as they are more susceptible to frost.

As Adamenko said, the actual data on the state of winter crops will be known after January 25, when the weather stations will take sprouts from the fields and study their condition.