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A rainy start to June across the Corn Belt

An ag meteorologist says additional rain and storms are in the forecast across the Corn Belt.

Drew Lerner with World Weather Incorporated says the heaviest rain will be in Kansas and Missouri.

“Between now and the end of the coming weekend, there will be three to four inch amounts, which doesn’t sound terrible, but you have to keep in mind how much rain has happened previously. We’re way above normal in some of these areas on rainfall this season.”

He says the rain won’t be quite as persistent in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

“But we will see one to 2.5 inches of moisture over the next seven days with a mix of rain and sunshine after that. It won’t be a bad situation as long as temperatures will heat up a little bit.”

Lerner says the lower Ohio River Valley and the Delta have had the biggest problems with spring planting. And while the Delta will miss out on the heaviest rains this week…

“That’s totally pointless, because it’s really all about the fact it’s raining, period in the Delta. We’ve had nothing but rain all season long and any additional rain is a problem for the areas struggling with too much moisture from the get-go.”

Lerner says the rain will end for a while in mid-June when a ridge of high pressure starts to build.