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Warmer end to growing season expected

An ag meteorologist says the short-term forecast will give crop fields a break from rain.

Jeff Andresen is the Michigan state climatologist.

“Precipitation totals projected here for the upcoming week are all below normal across Michigan and much of the Great Lakes region, most areas less than 1/4 of an inch if that occurs,” he says.

Andresen says forecasts for late July and the start of August are for warmer and possibly wetter conditions in some areas.

“Personally, I don’t see that yet, but it could happen by the end of the month,” he says. “That connects well with our longer lead outlooks, which also call for warmer than normal conditions during August and even to the latter part of the end of the growing season into the fall.”

He says soil moisture levels are well ahead of normal for most of the Midwest and, if not waterlogged, will help crops during the warmup.

Andresen gave his outlook during this week’s MSU Extension Field Crops virtual breakfast.