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.

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

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.

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%.

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.