May 23, 2013
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USDA: Recent Rain Beneficial, But It Has Caused Some Lowland Flooding

May 7, 2012
By: Meghan Pedersen, Pro Farmer Associate Editor

USDA's Joint Ag Weather Facility says in the Corn Belt, widespread showers and thunderstorms are slowing a previously rapid pace of fieldwork. "Although recent rainfall has caused pockets of lowland flooding in several areas, including southeastern South Dakota and southern Minnesota, precipitation remains generally beneficial for emerging summer crops," USDA explains. Currently, rain has ended across the upper Midwest but continues farther south and east, USDA adds.

In the West, USDA reports precipitation is confined to the central Rockies, where late-season snow is falling. "Cool, dry weather prevails across the remainder of the West, except for a return to warm conditions in the Pacific Coast states," USDA says.

On the Plains, USDA says cool conditions prevail, following an extended period of warm weather." In addition, a chilly rain is falling on the central High Plains, while showers are gradually ending across eastern Kansas," USDA explains.

In the South, USDA notes warm weather continues to promote winter wheat maturation and rapid summer crop growth. "Showers and thunderstorms are moving into the mid-South, curtailing fieldwork but moistening dry topsoils and benefiting recently planted summer crops," according to USDA.

In its outlook, USDA says a cold front currently stretching from the Midwest to the southern Plains will drift southeastward, generating widespread showers and thunderstorms. "Additional rainfall totals could reach 1 to 3 inches across the East and lower Midwest," USDA reports. By mid-week, USDA says the tail of the cold front will stall across the south-central U.S. "As a result, five-day rainfall totals could reach 2 to 5 inches in central and southern Texas," USDA explains. Elsewhere, generally dry weather will prevail west of the Rockies, USDA adds. During the mid- to late-week period, some frost may occur in parts of the North, including the Great Lakes region, northern Plains, and interior Northwest, according to USDA.


 

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