Weather

Record-shattering heat on the southern Plains

On the Plains, beneficial thundershowers are affecting central portions of the region, including southern Nebraska and northern Kansas. Meanwhile, a strong cold front is approaching the northern Plains. Elsewhere, record-shattering heat is maintaining severe stress on cotton and other immature summer crops on the southern Plains, where Wednesday’s highs soared to 112° in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Wichita Falls, Texas.

Across the Corn Belt, a broken line of showers and thunderstorms stretches from Michigan to southern Nebraska. The rain is providing localized relief to drought-stressed pastures and summer crops. Meanwhile, unfavorably hot weather persists across the southern Corn Belt, where Thursday’s high temperatures will again approach 100°.

In the South, scattered showers are heaviest in parts of Arkansas. Despite the rain in the Mid-South, much more precipitation will be needed to initiate and sustain recovery from this summer’s devastating heat and drought. Meanwhile in the Southeast, hot weather is promoting a rapid crop development pace.

In the West, generally warm, dry weather prevails during a lull in monsoon activity. Chilly conditions persist, however, along the Pacific Coast.