Weather

Topsoil moisture limited across much of the Heartland

On the Plains, beneficial rain lingers across southern areas, while isolated showers and thunderstorms are developing farther north. However, agricultural drought persists on the central Plains, where topsoil moisture was rated at least three-quarters very short to short on June 10 in Kansas (76%) and Colorado (75%).

Across the Corn Belt, cool, dry weather prevails, except for some showers in the west. Topsoil moisture remains limited across the southern and eastern Corn Belt; on June 10, topsoil moisture rated very short to short was greater than 50% in Missouri (87%), Illinois (78%), Indiana (74%), Nebraska (71%), Iowa (66%), Wisconsin (56%), and Ohio (56%).

In the South, spotty showers linger from Texas to the southern Atlantic Coast. Despite early-week showers, more rain is needed across the drought-affected Mid-South, where corn is beginning to enter reproduction. By June 10, one-fifth (20%) of the corn was silking in Tennessee, compared to the 5-year average of 2%.

In the West, cool, showery weather is returning to areas from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies. Elsewhere, warm, dry weather is promoting fieldwork and crop development, although breezy conditions are maintaining the threat of wildfire development and expansion in parts of the Intermountain West.