USDA’s Joint Ag Weather Facility says in the Corn Belt, warm, dry weather in the lower Midwest favors planting (or replanting) activities, as conditions permit. “In the western Corn Belt, however, showers and thunderstorms are ending a period of open weather that featured a torrid corn and soybean planting pace,” USDA details. Local areas from southeastern Nebraska into northwestern Wisconsin are cleaning up from last night’s severe weather, which included several tornadoes, according to USDA.
In the West, unusually cool weather prevails, USDA reports. “In addition, snow is falling across portions of the interior Northwest, and a winter storm warning is in effect in the northern Rockies for elevations above 4,000 feet,” it continues. Meanwhile, dry, breezy weather prevails in the Southwest, resulting in an elevated risk of wildfires, according to USDA.
On the Plains, USDA says stormy weather continues in the wake of last night’s severe thunderstorms, which stretched from western Texas into southern Nebraska. In areas affected by tornadoes or high winds, recovery efforts are underway as conditions permit. “Meanwhile, sharply cooler air is arriving across the northern Plains, slowing the emergence and growth of recently planted summer crops,” USDA reports.
In the South, warm, dry weather remains ideal for crop development, except in areas experiencing drought, according to USDA.
In its five-day outlook, says an extremely active weather pattern, featuring heavy rain, severe thunderstorms and local flooding across the nation’s midsection, will continue for the next three days. During the weekend, rainfall intensity will gradually diminish as showers shift into the South, East and lower Midwest, USDA continues. “Five-day rainfall totals could reach 2 to 5 inches from the southern Plains into the upper Midwest, with 1 to 3 inches possible as far east as the Appalachians. Little or no rain will fall, however, along the Atlantic Seaboard,” USDA details. Significant precipitation, including high-elevation snow, will occur across the northern and central Rockies and environs, but dry weather will prevail in the Desert Southwest and along the Pacific Coast, USDA continues. “A period of very cool weather will trail the storminess, but warmth will return to the Pacific Coast by Friday and expand eastward during the weekend,” USDA details.
