Weather

Generally drier weather settles into the Corn Belt; heat expands eastward across the Plains

Across the Corn Belt, near- or slightly below-normal temperatures prevail.  In addition, showers are affecting a few areas, mainly in the western Corn Belt.  Growing conditions for corn and soybeans have become generally more favorable in July, following late-June extremes that included upper Midwestern flooding and lower Midwestern heat and dryness.

On the Plains, spotty showers accompany a transition to hot weather.  On July 11, daily-record highs in Montana climbed to 101°F in Helena and 97°F in Cut Bank.  Later Friday, high temperatures will broadly reach or exceed 100°F across the northern and central High Plains, favoring winter wheat harvesting and a rapid pace of summer crop development.  However, heat is also boosting irrigation demands and has the potential to stress reproductive summer crops. 

In the South, locally heavy showers are occurring in several areas, including southern Florida, the western Gulf Coast region, and the middle Atlantic States.  Early Friday, some of the heaviest rain is falling in Virginia and North Carolina, which began the week (on July 7) with topsoil moisture rated 70 and 67% very short to short, respectively.  Among reporting states, North Carolina led the U.S. in very poor to poor ratings on July 7 for corn (73%) and soybeans (33%).

In the West, record-setting heat persists.  On July 11, Salt Lake City, Utah, noted a maximum temperature of 106°F, just shy of the all-time station record of 107°F set most recently on July 17, 2022.  An elevated threat of wildfire activity persists in several areas, including the northern Great Basin and interior Northwest, due to high temperatures, low humidity levels, and gusty winds.  Additionally, lightning strikes could ignite new fires from the Sierra Nevada into portions of the Colorado River Valley.