Weather

Locally heavy, severe, showers & t-storms on parts of the Plains, western, southern Corn Belt

Across the Corn Belt, scattered frost was noted Friday morning in the Great Lakes region, although most locations reported lower temperatures earlier in the week.  Meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms in areas west of the Mississippi River are halting fieldwork but improving topsoil moisture for recently planted corn and soybeans.  By April 21, the U.S. corn crop was 12% planted and 3% emerged, compared to the respective 5-year averages of 10 and 2%.

On the Plains, thunderstorms are rumbling across the southern half of the region.  Meanwhile, steady rain is falling across portions of the northern Plains.  All the rain is helping to boost topsoil moisture, which on April 21 was rated at least one-half very short to short in Kansas (65%), Montana (62%), and Colorado (52%).  Meanwhile, warm, dry, breezy weather on the southern High Plains is resulting in an elevated wildfire threat. 

In the South, mostly dry weather continues to promote spring fieldwork, including planting activities for a variety of summer crops.  However, isolated showers are developing across the mid-South, signaling the imminent return of wet weather.  Cotton planting was underway by April 21 in all Southeastern States, led by Virginia (12% complete).  On the same date, peanut planting had begun in all Southeastern States except Virginia, led by Florida (11% complete).

In the West, below-normal temperatures are arriving west of the Rockies.  Across the northern two-thirds of the region, scattered rain and snow showers accompany the cooler conditions.  Meanwhile, dry weather generally favors spring fieldwork from southern California to the southern Rockies, although some areas are experiencing gusty winds.