Weather

Heat on the Plains, rain in parts of the Corn Belt

Across the Corn Belt, showers and thunderstorms are boosting soil moisture for rapidly developing summer crops. On June 3, Missouri led the Midwest with topsoil moisture rated 39% very short to short. Currently, some of the heaviest rain is falling across the Midwest.

On the Plains, scattered showers and thunderstorms continue to help offset the effects of above-normal temperatures. On the southern Plains, however, some rangeland, pastures, and summer crops continue to struggle due to high temperatures and a lack of soil moisture. On June 3, only 39% of the cotton in Oklahoma and 28% of the cotton in Texas was rated in good to excellent condition, compared to 74 and 53%, respectively, at the same time a year ago.

In the South, warm, dry weather prevails, except for a few showers in the southern Atlantic region. Concerns about developing drought persist in some areas from the Mississippi Delta westward; statewide pasture ratings on June 3 included 37% very poor to poor in Texas and 30% very poor to poor in Louisiana.

In the West, rain showers are approaching the northern Pacific Coast. Currently, nearly all of the West is xperiencing warm, dry weather. Critically dry conditions persist in much of the Southwest, where Winslow, Arizona, has reported precipitation totaling just 0.54 inch (12% of normal) since September 1, 2017.

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