Weather

Heat continues on parts of the Plains, more seasonal environs cover much of the Corn Belt; sct’d showers linger for some

Across the Corn Belt, favorably dry weather prevails in the wettest areas, from central Illinois into southern Ohio. Rivers are retreating from recent high-water marks, which included a record crest on August 15 along the White River at Noblesville, Indiana. Meanwhile, scattered showers and thunderstorms are developing in the upper Great Lakes States. Midwestern temperatures remain favorable for corn and soybeans; however, upper Midwestern drought remains a concern regarding crop outcomes.

On the Plains, thunderstorms are settling a bit farther south, into parts of Oklahoma. However, exceptionally hot weather persists on the southern half of the High Plains, where Friday’s high temperatures should generally range from 100 to 105°F. On Aug 16, one-third (33%) of the nation’s sorghum was rated in very poor to poor condition, compared with 10% at the same time a year ago. Meanwhile on the northern Plains, dry weather favors small grain harvesting.

In the South, heat has eased east of the Mississippi River, amid occasional showers. However, dry conditions and intense heat (high temperatures at or above 100°F in non-coastal locations) in the western Gulf Coast region favor fieldwork, including rice harvesting, but are stressing pastures and immature summer crops.

In the West, monsoon-related shower activity remains widely scattered and limited to the Great Basin, Intermountain West, and Southwest. Hot weather prevails throughout the western U.S., while wildfire concerns persist in the Northwest. In Oregon and Washington, a half-dozen active wildfires have burned more than 100,000 acres of vegetation apiece. Nationally, for the year to date, more than 7.5 million acres have been scorched by wildfire.