USDA’s Joint Ag Weather Facility says in the West, isolated showers are confined to the Four Corners States, while cool conditions are limited to the immediate Pacific Coast. “Elsewhere, warm, dry weather favors fieldwork and crop development,” USDA says.
“On the Plains, hot weather accompanies diminishing areas of shower activity. Across the northern Plains, late-summer heat favors winter and spring wheat harvesting,” USDA says. Meanwhile, drought continues across the south-central U.S., despite sporadic August rainfall, USDA reports.
In the Corn Belt, USDA says a few showers and thunderstorms are confined to areas west of the Mississippi River. “Across the eastern Corn Belt, dry weather and near- to slightly below-normal temperatures favor summer crop development. However, dryness remains a concern in some areas, including a strip from southeastern Iowa into central Indiana,” USDA reports.
In the South, showers are ending along the southern Atlantic Coast, except across Florida’s peninsula. “Very warm weather continues to stress some Southern pastures and immature summer crops,” USDA continues.
In the outlook, USDA says much of the U.S. will experience above-normal temperatures for the remainder of the week. “Exceptions will include the Northeast (cool early in the week) and the immediate Pacific Coast” USDA adds. During the next few days, USDA says significant rainfall will be mostly confined to northern portions of the Midwest and scattered locations in Florida and the Southwest. “Late in the week, however, Hurricane Irene will threaten the southern Atlantic Coast. Landfall could occur as early as Thursday night along Florida’s east coast, but will occur later and farther north if Irene veers northward before reaching Florida,” USDA explains. It continues, “At 8:00 am EDT, Hurricane Irene was centered 90 miles west-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, moving toward the west-northwest at 14 mph.”
