Weather

Windy, milder weather on the Plains, western Corn Belt; winterlike cold lingers in the Midwest

Across the Corn Belt, snow showers linger downwind of the Great Lakes.  Elsewhere in the Midwest, cold, dry, breezy weather prevails.  Friday’s high temperatures will remain mostly at or below 32°F in the northern and eastern Corn Belt, but some erosion of cold air is starting to occur across the southwestern Corn Belt, including much of Nebraska.

On the Plains, a dry weather pattern is in place.  However, above-normal temperatures on the High Plains contrast with lingering cool conditions farther east.  Friday’s high temperatures will remain below 32°F in the Red River Valley of the North—but should reach 60°F or higher across portions of the central High Plains.  Parts of Montana are bracing for strong westerly winds, starting later Friday.

In the South, chilly but dry weather favors late-season fieldwork, including final harvest efforts.  In Florida, 82% of the cotton acreage had been harvested by December 1.  With the growing season having ended, except in winter agricultural regions of Texas and Florida, producers are shifting their focus to off-season activities, including farm maintenance.

In the West, mild, dry weather prevails in advance of an approaching Pacific storm system.  However, with a high-pressure system still anchored over the northern Great Basin and the Northwest, some valley locations continue to experience air stagnation and freezing fog, leading to local reductions in visibility.  Meanwhile in the Desert Southwest, temperatures later Friday will again approach or reach 80°F, favoring late-season fieldwork.