On the Plains, lingering showers and thunderstorms are confined to portions of Oklahoma and northern Texas. Meanwhile, warm weather is returning to the northern Plains, following a recent period of highly beneficial rainfall.

Across the Corn Belt, scattered, generally beneficial showers are occurring in the vicinity of a cold front stretching southward from Michigan. The front separates warm, humid air in the eastern-most Corn Belt from slightly cooler, dry weather in the western Corn Belt.

In the South, Tropical Storm Alberto – a very small system – is currently centered about 100 miles east-northeast of St. Augustine, Florida, with minimal impacts on U.S. weather. Elsewhere, a few showers – not directly related to Alberto – are spreading inland across the southern Mid-Atlantic States, while beneficial rain associated with a cold front is falling in parts of the lower Mississippi Valley.

In the West, warm, dry weather prevails, except for a return to cool, showery conditions in the Pacific Northwest.

On the Plains, beneficial rain is ending across Montana and the Dakotas, where cool, breezy weather prevails. Across the southern half of the Plains, warm, dry weather is maintaining concerns about the deteriorating conditions of summer crops and immature winter wheat.

Across the Corn Belt, showers and thunderstorms across the upper Midwest are slowing soybean planting but providing highly beneficial moisture for summer crops. Meanwhile, warm, dry air is expanding across the central and eastern Corn Belt, where pockets of unfavorable dryness exist.

In the South, showers continue to ease or eradicate drought in the southern Mid-Atlantic States. In contrast, worsening drought is adversely affecting pastures and summer crops in the Mid-South, including the northern Mississippi Delta.

In the West, cool weather in California and the Northwest contrasts with lingering heat in the Southwest. Scattered rain and high-elevation snow showers accompany the Northwestern cool spell.

The Weekly Crop & Weather Bulletin

On the Plains, cool conditions prevail, following an extended period of warm weather. In addition, a chilly rain is falling on the central High Plains, while showers are gradually ending across eastern Kansas.

Across the Corn Belt, widespread showers and thunderstorms are slowing a previously rapid pace of fieldwork. Although recent rainfall has caused pockets of lowland flooding in several areas, including southeastern South Dakota and southern Minnesota, precipitation remains generally beneficial for emerging summer crops. Currently, rain has ended across the upper Midwest but continues farther south and east.

In the South, warm weather continues to promote winter wheat maturation and rapid summer crop growth. Showers and thunderstorms are moving into the Mid-South, curtailing fieldwork but moistening dry topsoils and benefiting recently planted summer crops.

In the West, precipitation is confined to the central Rockies, where late-season snow is falling. Cool, dry weather prevails across the remainder of the West, except for a return to warm conditions in the Pacific Coast States.

On the Plains, warm weather prevails, except for below-normal temperatures on Montana’s High Plains. In most areas, a phenomenal pace of winter wheat development continues; for example, 74% of the Kansas crop had headed by April 29, compared to the 5-year average of 7%.

Across the Corn Belt, cool weather lingers in the Great Lakes region, where producers continue to assess the impact of the April 27-30 freezes on a variety of fruit crops. Meanwhile, scattered showers and thunderstorms are affecting the western and central Corn Belt, with the heaviest rain falling in the middle Mississippi Valley.

In the South, very warm, mostly dry weather prevails. Later Tuesday, temperatures will approach or reach 90° across much of the region, helping to promote winter wheat maturation and rapid summer crop development.

In the West, cool conditions persist along the Pacific Coast and throughout the Northwest. Planting progress and crop emergence continues to lag the normal pace in California and the Northwest. For example, only 2% of California’s rice had been planted by April 29, compared to the 5-year average of 20%. In Washington, 24% of the spring wheat had emerged, versus the 5-year average of 40%.

On the Plains, scattered showers and thunderstorms from Kansas to Texas are benefiting pastures, winter wheat, and emerged summer crops. However, drought-breaking rains continue to largely bypass the southern High Plains. Meanwhile, mild, dry weather prevails across the northern half of the Plains, following last week’s beneficial rainfall.

Across the Corn Belt, a band of showers stretches from Michigan to Missouri. The rain is slowing summer crop planting efforts but boosting moisture reserves for pastures, winter grains, and emerging corn.

In the South, warm, mostly dry weather is promoting a rapid pace of fieldwork and crop growth. Showers and thunderstorms are confined to southern Florida and the northwestern fringe of the region (e.g. northwestern Arkansas).

In the West, cool, showery weather in the Pacific Northwest contrasts with warm, dry weather across the remainder of the region. Warmth is especially beneficial in California, where planting activities for crops such as cotton and rice have been lagging the normal pace.

The statewide average temperature for March was 54.9 degrees, 13.8 degrees above normal, making March 2012 a record-setting month, according to the Illinois State Water Survey.  The warmest temperature reported in the state was at Chicago O’Hare on March 21 with 87 degrees. The coldest temperature reported was in Monmouth on March 5 with 5 degrees.

The three-month winter period from January to March 2012 was another record-breaker; it was the warmest of that period on record since 1895. The statewide average temperature from January to March was 40.9 degrees, 9.1 degrees above normal.

The statewide average precipitation was 2.11 inches, 1.1 inches below normal or 66 percent of normal. Precipitation was below normal across much of the state. However, there were a few wet spots with Fairview Heights reporting the highest monthly total of 4.88 inches of precipitation.

Despite the warm temperatures, there was some snow in March. The largest monthly total was reported at Roscoe with 5.6 inches of snow.

The Illinois State Water Survey

On the Plains, cool, showery weather across the northern half of the region contrasts with lingering warmth farther south. Rain across the northern half of the Plains is beneficial for winter wheat and emerging summer crops, including spring wheat.

Across the Corn Belt, another freeze in the lower Great Lakes region has resulted in the possibility of further injury to fruit crops. In the freeze-affected area, very little winter wheat has begun to head, while only a small amount of corn has emerged. By April 22, for example, 2% of Ohio’s corn had emerged.

In the South, mild, mostly dry weather is promoting fieldwork and crop development. Despite recent rainfall, more precipitation is needed to ease drought concerns across the lower Southeast.

In the West, sharply cooler weather has replaced early-week warmth. Nevertheless, some flooding is underway across the northern Rockies, where recent precipitation and snow melt have combined to elevate river levels.

On the Plains, showers linger in parts of Montana, while the rest of the region is dry and mostly warmer than normal. Pastures and winter grains on the northern and southern High Plains are benefiting from recent soil moisture improvements, but both regions would welcome additional rain.

Across the Corn Belt, scattered showers are developing in western portions of the region, providing beneficial moisture in preparation for summer crop planting. Across the remainder of the Midwest, sunny skies are promoting fieldwork and early summer crop establishment.

In the South, mild weather lingers over the Atlantic Coast States. Locally heavy showers and thunderstorms are developing along a slow-moving cold front from the Delta into the Tennessee Valley, improving soil moisture for pastures and summer crops.

In the West, cool, wet weather is improving soil moisture for Northwestern winter wheat. Sunny skies have returned to California, promoting fieldwork and crop development. Elsewhere in the West, cool, mostly dry weather prevails.

After a “winter” of much warmer than normal temperatures, the month of March has upped the ante – resembling early summer more than spring across Ohio.

A string of days where the high temperatures have reached well into the 70s and lower 80s dominated the middle portions of the month, and some longstanding records have fallen along the way. Low temperatures on some mornings have failed to drop below 60.

Warmest March on Record

Northeast Ohio March 2012 Weather Summary

Selected Record Highs & More

Record Highs Set in Eastern Ohio

Soil temperatures continued to rise across Illinois in February and March, according to the Illinois State Water Survey.

The median soil temperature at 4 inches under bare soil for Illinois in February was 35.9 degrees, 3.3 degrees higher than February 2011. March’s median soil temperature was also higher at 54.6 degrees or 12.1 degrees greater than last year. Similar increases were observed in measurements made at depths of 4 and 8 inches under sod.

Southern and central Illinois saw increases of 13 degrees in March over last year with median temperatures of 58.7 degrees and 55.2 degrees, respectively, at 4 inches under bare soil. Soil temperatures in northern Illinois were also greater than in 2011 with a median temperature of 41.3 degrees for March.

Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring Program