Weather

A touch winter to the North; largely dry, chilly weather across the Corn Belt

Across the Corn Belt, Friday morning’s frost and scattered freezes covered many of the same Midwestern areas that experienced an end to the growing season during last week’s cold outbreak.  Any rain and snow showers are limited to the upper Great Lakes region.  Meanwhile, many Midwestern fields lack adequate moisture, with some producers planting winter wheat and cover crops into dry, dusty soils.  On October 9, statewide topsoil moisture ranged from 25% very short to short in Wisconsin to 82% in Nebraska.

On the Plains, a dry weather pattern remains in place, further reducing topsoil moisture for the emergence and establishment of recently planted winter grains.  Friday’s high temperatures will range from 80 to 90°F across the southern half of the Plains.  In addition, gusty winds, low humidity levels, and drought-cured grasses are resulting in a significantly elevated wildfire threat for Friday, especially in northeastern Colorado, southwestern Nebraska, and parts of Kansas.

In the South, showers are limited to southern Florida.  Meanwhile, lingering warmth is generally confined to the Deep South.  Harvesting of Southern crops such as peanuts (43% complete on October 9) and cotton (29% complete) is progressing at a faster-than-normal pace.  Meanwhile in Florida’s citrus areas, USDA/NASS noted “field reports [indicate] various levels of tree damage, ranging from…leaf loss and downed limbs [to] split trees and trees leaning or uprooted.”

In the West, warm, dry weather remains ideal for autumn fieldwork, including California’s cotton and rice harvests.  On October 9, cotton harvesting in California was 20% complete, versus the 5-year average of 11%.  However, dryness is also hampering Northwestern winter wheat emergence and establishment.  In Idaho, only 23% of the winter wheat acreage had emerged by October 9, well behind the 5-year average of 37%—even though planting was occurring at a near-normal pace.