Weather

A wide-range of temps across the Heartland; Summer-like heat on much of the Plains

Across the Corn Belt, warmth continues to expand eastward. In fact, Friday’s warmth in the western Corn Belt—high temperatures should reach 90°F or higher as far north as western Iowa—will promote emergence and growth of recently planted corn and soybeans. In the central Corn Belt, a few thundershowers accompany the arrival of warmer weather.

On the Plains, a dust storm swept across areas along and near the Canadian border on Thursday, disrupting travel and resulting in sharply reduced visibility. Ongoing gusty winds today across the northern Plains could lead to additional blowing dust and an elevated wildfire threat. The southern High Plains are also at risk for wildfire activity, amid early-season heat (high temperatures near 100°F), drought, low humidity levels, and increasingly breezy conditions.

In the South, warmth is encroaching from the west and south. In fact, Friday’s high temperatures should exceed 90°F across parts of Florida’s peninsula and many areas west of the Mississippi Delta. Heat is boosting moisture demands in areas still experiencing drought. According to the May 12 U.S. Drought Monitor, Extreme to Exceptional Drought (D3 to D4) covers 58% of the Southeast region, which includes Alabama and the Atlantic Coast States from Florida to Virginia.

In the West, any precipitation is limited to the Pacific Northwest, where showers are developing. Gusty winds continue in several areas, although heat is confined to the Southwest. With much of the Western snowpack having already melted, water managers are bracing for limited runoff, especially in areas where reservoir storage is already below average. On April 30, storage in the Colorado River Basin stood at 16.1 million acre-feet, just 49% of average for this time of year.