In Huanghuahai, crop condition was generally below the recent five-year average, although it approached that level in January. Unfavorable meteorological conditions during the last monitoring period may impact the sowing and crop development at early growing stage. Dry weather from July to October hindered the germination of winter wheat, which is confirmed by the well below average NDVI value before December  in the NDVI development graph. Significant above average rainfall (63%) from October 2015 to January 2016 provides sufficient soil moisture for winter wheat to develop after the wintering period. 

As shown in the spatial pattern of NDVI departure map, crop condition was below average before December in almost the whole region, especially in the east of Shandong province, and the southern fringe of the region. Since December, crops in the region except for the most southern part recovered to average, which mainly results from the a