USDA’s Joint Ag Weather Facility says in the Corn Belt, a cold front -- accompanied by rain -- extends southward from the upper Great Lakes region. Despite ideal weather in recent days, Midwestern corn development remains well behind the normal pace. “On Sept. 24, just over half (51%) of the U.S. corn crop was mature, 13 percentage points behind the five-year average,” USDA details. Progress was at least 20 points behind average in Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, USDA details.
In the West, USDA reports warmth has returned to portions of the Pacific Coast States, but cool conditions linger farther inland. “On Sept. 24, Washington led the U.S. with 53% of its intended winter wheat acreage planted,” USDA elaborates.
On the Plains, USDA reports cool, dry air is overspreading the northern half of the region, following the latest round of drought-easing rainfall. “Locally heavy showers linger, however, across the southern Plains, boosting soil moisture for recently planted winter wheat but raising concerns about the quality of open-boll cotton,” USDA explains.
In the South, heavy surf and gusty winds continue along the southern Mid-Atlantic coast in conjunction with Hurricane Maria, centered 190 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, at 8 a.m. EDT. “Maria, drifting northward at 7 mph, is barely a hurricane, with sustained winds near 75 mph mainly southeast of the center,” USDA explains. Elsewhere, warm, dry weather prevails, except for showers in southern Florida, USDA continues.
For the remainder of the week, USDA says Maria should make its closest approach to North Carolina’s Outer Banks by midweek before veering out to sea. “Tropical storm-force winds (39 mph or greater) will be limited to immediate Mid-Atlantic coastal areas,” it details. Meanwhile, the primary focus for heavy rain will include southern portions of the Rockies and Plains, where five-day totals of 2 to 6 inches or more could cause flooding—especially in the middle Rio Grande Valley, according to the department. Farther north, USDA reports a late-season heat wave will end after midweek across the Midwest and East, although mostly dry weather should persist. “Aside from the south-central U.S., precipitation should be mostly limited to southern Florida (1 to 3 inches), the Northwest (up to an inch), and the Great Lakes region (one-half inch or less),” USDA continues.
