Weather

A wide-range of temperatures across the Heartland; showers ending in the E. Corn Belt

Across the Corn Belt, dry weather has returned west of the Mississippi River.  Meanwhile, showers linger across the eastern Corn Belt.  Midwestern temperatures remain favorable for reproductive to filling corn and soybeans, with readings above 90°F confined to portions of the western Corn Belt.

On the Plains, hot weather prevails, except in the vicinity of a weak cold front that is producing some thunderstorms in Oklahoma and portions of neighboring states.  Friday’s high temperatures should approach or reach 105°F as far north as eastern Montana, with potentially adverse impacts on immature small grains, such as spring wheat and barley.

In the South, hot, humid weather continues to promote a rapid pace of crop development.  Although many crops are holding up well amid the heat, pockets of Southeastern drought persist.

In the West, with nearly 100 large wildfires already active, lightning strikes could ignite new fires later Friday in portions of the Pacific Coast States and the western Great Basin.  In addition, scorching heat has returned, with today’s maximum temperatures expected to reach 105°F or higher as far north as eastern Washington.  The Northwestern heat could trim the yield potential for small grains still in the grain-fill stage of development.