Weather

Another freeze across parts of the northern, eastern Corn Belt

On the Plains, cool, showery weather across the northern half of the region contrasts with lingering warmth farther south. Rain across the northern half of the Plains is beneficial for winter wheat and emerging summer crops, including spring wheat.

Across the Corn Belt, another freeze in the lower Great Lakes region has resulted in the possibility of further injury to fruit crops. In the freeze-affected area, very little winter wheat has begun to head, while only a small amount of corn has emerged. By April 22, for example, 2% of Ohio’s corn had emerged.

In the South, mild, mostly dry weather is promoting fieldwork and crop development. Despite recent rainfall, more precipitation is needed to ease drought concerns across the lower Southeast.

In the West, sharply cooler weather has replaced early-week warmth. Nevertheless, some flooding is underway across the northern Rockies, where recent precipitation and snow melt have combined to elevate river levels.