Weather

Another unsettled day’s worth of weather; ongoing heavy rain, flooding & storms for some

Across the Corn Belt, producers are planting corn and soybeans as field conditions permit, amid a temporary lull in widespread shower activity.  Meanwhile, chilly air is overspreading the upper Midwest, where Friday’s high temperatures will generally range from 50 to 65°F.  Several days ago, on April 27, corn planting was ahead of the 5-year average pace in all Midwestern States except Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, with overall progress ranging from 4% complete in Wisconsin to 47% complete in Missouri.

On the Plains, overnight and ongoing rainfall has prolonged and aggravated flooding in parts of southern, central, and eastern Oklahoma.  Flood-related concerns extend across the Red River into northern Texas.  Cool, dry weather covers the remainder of the nation’s mid-section, aside from lingering showers across the east-central Plains.

In the South, showers are becoming more numerous, mainly west of the Appalachians.  Early Friday, some of the heaviest rain is falling across northern Arkansas, where some flash flooding has developed.  In contrast, pockets of drought persist in the Atlantic Coast States, with 17% of Florida experiencing Extreme Drought (D3) on April 29, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

In the West, warmth has returned, except for lingering cool conditions in the Rockies.  Frost was observed in some typically colder locations, including Idaho’s upper Snake River Plain.  Later Friday, high temperatures will reach 85°F as far north as eastern Washington and could top 95°F in parts of the Desert Southwest.