USDA’s Joint Ag Weather Facility says in the Corn Belt, warm, dry weather favors a limited return to corn planting and other spring fieldwork, as conditions permit. “Some of the best opportunities for fieldwork are occurring in the southern Corn Belt, which has received only light rain in recent days,” USDA reports.
In the West, USDA says a cool, showery weather pattern remains in place across northern California and the Northwest, maintaining a slow fieldwork pace. “Conversely, warm, dry weather favors fieldwork and rapid crop growth—but is also resulting in an elevated to critical wildfire threat— in the Southwest,” USDA continues.
On the Plains, USDA reports unusually cold weather prevails across the northern tier of the region, accompanied by a few rain and snow showers. “In contrast, warm, dry weather on the central and southern Plains is promoting winter wheat development and summer crop planting and emergence,” USDA explains.
In the South, USDA reports a slow-moving storm is producing heavy rain in the southern Mid-Atlantic States and easing long-term drought across portions of the interior Southeast. “In Florida, cooler weather and scattered showers are aiding wildfire containment efforts and easing the threat of new fires,” USDA details.
In its five-day outlook, USDA says a southeastern storm will remain the focus for heavy rain as it drifts along the Atlantic Seaboard through midweek. Additional rainfall could reach 2 to 6 inches in parts of Virginia and the Carolinas, it continues. “Rainfall will be lighter in surrounding areas, including Florida,” USDA adds. Meanwhile, dry weather will prevail through week’s end from southern California to the Mississippi Valley, and from the Midwest into the Northeast. “In contrast, five-day amounts of 2 to 5 inches can be expected in the Pacific Northwest, with 1- to 4-inch totals possible in the northern and central Rockies,” USDA reports. Active weather will also continue across the Plains and Midwest, with periodic showers and thunderstorms likely, according to USDA. “Elsewhere, mid- to late-week surges of cool air will engulf much of the western and central U.S.,” it continues.
