A high-pressure ridge is expected to expand while drifting temporarily into the heart of the Plains and portions of the western Corn Belt this weekend and early next week resulting in what may be the hottest temperatures of the summer for these areas. World Weather, Inc. believes the stage is being set now for extremes in the Plains to range from 108 to 112 degrees late this weekend into Tuesday of next week with a possible extreme of 113. The western Corn Belt will not be quite so hot, but will still manage to see extremes of 96 to 105 with the hottest readings near and west of the Missouri River. The forecaster says Monday should be hottest in the Northern Plains, Tuesday will be hottest in the Central Plains and western Corn Belt and Wednesday will be hottest in the Delta. Some warming will also occur in the eastern Midwest, but it will be followed by a quick cool off as a deep trough of low pressure follows the heat wave frontal boundary across the northern Plains and Midwest.
World Weather says there is potential for the entire process to be repeated one more time at the end of next week and into the following weekend as the same scenario evolves. The two waves of excessive heat will warrant significant rain to replenish soil moisture that will be lost in key agricultural areas during the heatwave. Without moisture replenishment, the heat may be quick to return late next week when the ridge attempts to build up again and there will be more stress to the western Corn Belt because of the already depleted soil moisture at that time.
World Weather says as of the midday weather model run, most of the western Corn Belt and much of the Central and Southern Plains will not receive much more than a few scattered showers and thunderstorms that will likely fail in replenishing soil moisture. Soils will be drier 10 days from now than they are today in South Dakota, the southwest half of Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and eastern Kansas. Areas from Texas to western Kansas and eastern Colorado will remain extremely dry.
Get exclusive market insights and analysis that’s not available online when you start a Pro Farmer subscription. Start a 1-month trial for just $1.
