Weather

Beneficial rains for parts of the Corn Belt

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.