Weather

Rain lingers south of the lower Ohio Valley; new moisture pattern on the southern High Plains

Across the Corn Belt, dry weather has returned, aside from lingering showers in the Ohio Valley.  Fieldwork delays continue where the heaviest rain fell in recent days, mainly across Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, as well as portions of neighboring states.  However, only 6% of the U.S. soybeans and 9% of the corn remained in the field by November 3.

On the Plains, cool, mostly dry weather prevails.  However, a storm system emerging from the western U.S. is producing some precipitation—rain and wet snow—across the central High Plains.  Winter wheat, rangeland, and pastures are benefiting from recent soil moisture improvements, although the northwestern half of the region has experienced less consequential drought relief than areas farther south and east.  In fact, excessive rain has recently fallen in central and eastern Oklahoma, as well as neighboring areas, with 6- to 10-inch totals commonly observed over the last 7 days.  

In the South, a line of showers stretches from Arkansas to coastal Texas.  Although flash flooding is occurring where some of the heaviest rain has fallen, the storminess is also helping to replenish previously depleted topsoil moisture and is improving prospects for pastures, winter grains, and cover crops.  Meanwhile, warm, mostly dry weather prevails in the Southeast, where little rain has fallen since Hurricane Helene struck in late September.  By November 3, topsoil moisture rated very short to short had climbed to 81% in Georgia, along with 76% in South Carolina.

In the West, chilly conditions are in place, except in parts of California.  A potentially dangerous fire-weather day is unfolding across the coastal mountains of southern California, where a “Santa Ana” wind event is underway; the combination of receptive fuels, low humidity levels, and local wind gusts above 60 mph could lead to explosive wildfire growth.  Farther east, snow is blanketing portions of the central and southern Rockies.