USDA’s Joint Ag Weather Facility says on the Plains, hot weather persists across southern portions of the region, where high temperatures will again surpass the 100-degree mark. “Meanwhile, favorably cooler weather prevails across the northern and central Plains, although dry conditions are maintaining severe stress on rangeland and pastures,” USDA reports. In addition, winter wheat planting is underway in a few areas, including Nebraska (1% seeded by Sept. 2), meaning that soaking rainfall will soon be needed to ensure proper crop emergence and establishment, according to USDA.
In the West, USDA says showers are confined to southern areas. “Elsewhere, hot, dry weather favors fieldwork, including early-season winter wheat planting,” USDA adds. By Sept. 2, winter wheat planting was 13% complete in Washington. according to USDA.
In the Corn Belt, USDA says a broken line of showers stretches from upper Great Lakes region into the middle Mississippi Valley. “The rain is too late for summer crops but is helping to replenish drought-depleted soil moisture,” USDA explains. In advance of the shower activity, hot weather prevails across the southern and eastern Corn Belt, USDA continues.
In the South, a low-pressure system near the central Gulf Coast is producing heavy showers, USDA reports. A post-Isaac report from southern Louisiana indicates lodging of sugarcane, according to USDA. “Less than half (45%) of the state’s sugarcane was rated good to excellent on Sept. 2, down from 77% the previous week,” USDA elaborates, continuing, “Sugarcane rated very poor to poor climbed from 2% to 30% during the same period.” Elsewhere, hot weather prevails in the Mid-South and the lower Mississippi Valley, where today’s temperatures will approach, reach, or exceed 100°F, USDA explains.
In its outlook, USDA says a series of cold fronts will produce showers from the central and southern Plains into the Ohio Valley and much of the East. “Five-day amounts of 1 to 2 inches will be common, except for some higher totals in New England and the lower Southeast,” USDA elaborates. Only light showers can be expected across the northern Plains and upper Midwest, USDA adds. “The fronts will result in a cooling trend across the Plains and Midwest, with below-normal temperatures expected in both regions by week’s end,” USDA reports.
