Weather

Recent rains benefit drier reaches of the Heartland

Across the Corn Belt, sunny weather and near-normal temperatures favor the development of late-planted corn and soybeans. In recent days, showers have benefited summer crops in some of the driest areas of the Midwest, although more rain will be needed as crops progress through the filling stage of development.

On the Plains, a hot, dry weather pattern is in place, except along the Canadian border and in eastern sections of Nebraska and the Dakotas. Monday’s high temperatures will again exceed 100° across parts of the southern Plains, maintaining stress on rangeland, pastures, and rain-fed summer crops.

In the South, hot, humid weather continues to promote summer crop development. Showery conditions persist, however, across the lower Southeast, and flash flooding remains a threat in parts of northern Florida.

In the West, cool weather is confined to areas along and near the Pacific Coast. At most inland locations, hot, dry weather prevails. The poor performance of this year’s monsoon has led to an increase in stress on rangeland and pastures, particularly in the Southwest. Drought also remains a concerns in parts of the Northwest, although the dry conditions favor small grain harvesting.