Weather

A big change in weather underway across parts of the Heartland

Across the Corn Belt, warm, showery weather is slowing fieldwork across the Ohio Valley, while heavy showers and thunderstorms — some severe — are accompanying a strong cold front sweeping over the middle and upper Mississippi Valley.  A re-enforcing cold front is also triggering showers in the upper Midwest.  Recent dry weather has allowed the corn and soybean harvests to make good progress, with both on par or slightly ahead of the 5-year average nationally.

On the Plains, a cold front is triggering much-needed rain in eastern Kansas, while a secondary re-enforcing front is producing showers and gusty winds on the northern Plains.  Otherwise, mostly dry albeit cooler weather prevails.  As of October 9, topsoil moisture was rated more than 80 percent short to very short in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas, while Oklahoma’s topsoil moisture was rated 95 percent short to very short.

In the South, showers are slowing fieldwork across the lower Southeast, while one more day of dry, warm weather is facilitating summer crop harvesting in the Carolinas and southern Mid-Atlantic.  From the Delta westward, dry weather is promoting fieldwork but exacerbating drought; as of October 9, topsoil moisture was rated 95 percent short to very short in Arkansas.  In Florida, moderate to major flooding continues, especially along the St. Johns River basin. 

In the West, warm, dry weather is promoting a rapid pace of summer crop harvesting but causing Northwestern drought to intensify.  As of October 9, topsoil moisture was rated 67 and 75 percent short to very short in Washington and Oregon, respectively; in contrast, late-season rain has boosted Arizona’s topsoil moisture to 91 percent adequate to surplus.