On the Plains, recovery efforts continue in the wake of the tragic tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. Thunderstorms have re-developed across portions of the southern Plains, including tornado-ravaged areas south of Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, very cool weather prevails across the northern and central Plains. Fieldwork remains at a standstill in the Dakotas, where rain showers persist.

Across the Corn Belt, showery weather is halting most fieldwork, following last week’s phenomenal corn planting pace. Nearly half (43%) of the U.S. corn was planted during the week ending May 19, led by Illinois (57%), Iowa (56%), and Minnesota (52%). Similarly, 18% of the U.S. soybeans were planted during the 7 days ending May 19, paced by Michigan (36%), Ohio (29%), and Nebraska (26%).

In the South, locally severe thunderstorms are racing across several areas, including parts of Arkansas and western portions of Kentucky and Tennessee. A few heavy showers are also occurring along the southern Atlantic Coast. Across the remainder of the region, planting activities continue.

In the West, much cooler air is overspreading the Pacific Northwest, accompanied by widespread showers. In contrast, a ribbon of warm, dry weather stretches from central and southern California to the northern Intermountain West.

On the Plains, very warm weather continues to promote an acceleration of fieldwork and crop development. Warmth is especially notable on the central Plains, where Tuesday’s high temperatures will again approach or reach 95°. Precipitation (showers and thunderstorms) are mostly confined to the Red River Valley.

Across the Corn Belt, cool weather lingers across Michigan and Ohio, accompanied by scattered showers. Warmer air is overspreading the remainder of the Midwest, promoting an acceleration of corn and early-season soybean planting.

In the South, Frost Advisories were in effect Tuesday morning as far south as northern and western North Carolina. Elsewhere, dry but cool weather is conducive to fieldwork operations, including cotton, peanut, rice, and soybean planting.

In the West, warm, dry weather favors fieldwork and crop growth. Planting is ahead of the normal pace for most crops, including cotton (in Arizona and California), rice (in California), and spring wheat (in Idaho and Washington).

On the Plains, much warmer weather accompanies scattered rain showers in the Dakotas. Elsewhere, very warm, dry weather prevails. High temperatures above 90° will be common later Monday throughout the region, even as far north as the Dakotas.

Across the Corn Belt, Frost and Freeze advisories were in effect early Monday from the Mississippi River eastward. Some of the lowest temperatures were noted in Wisconsin and Michigan, where readings below 30° were common. Freezes are a concern with respect to fruit crops in Michigan, although development was as much as 1 to 2 weeks behind normal due to persistently cool spring weather.

In the South, cool but dry weather favors planting activities and other spring fieldwork. However, scattered frost was noted this morning across the interior Southeast, including parts of Kentucky and Tennessee.

In the West, warm, dry weather favors a rapid pace of fieldwork and crop development. Slightly cooler air is just starting to overspread the Pacific Northwest, accompanied by isolated showers.

On the Plains, dry weather is promoting fieldwork. However, mild weather across the northern High Plains contrasts with chilly conditions across the remainder of the nation’s mid-section. Freezes were noted Monday morning as far south as eastern Colorado and northwestern Kansas.

Across the Corn Belt, dry weather has returned to the upper Midwest. However, locally heavy showers are falling across the Ohio Valley, closing a window of opportunity for corn planting that lasted several days.

In the South, scattered but locally heavy rain showers are mostly confined to the interior Southeast. During the past 24 hours, parts of western North Carolina have received more than 4 inches of rain. However, generally dry weather prevails across the Deep South, from Texas to Florida.

In the West, cool weather accompanies widely scattered showers from California to the southern Rockies. In contrast, very warm, dry weather in the Northwest favors fieldwork and crop development.