Weather

Colder air builds into the Heartland

On the Plains, cold air is settled across Montana and the Dakotas, where Monday morning’s temperatures locally fell below 20°. Meanwhile on the central and southern Plains, mild, dry weather favors planting preparations and early-season seeding operations.

Across the Corn Belt, cool air is surging across the upper Midwest, where Monday morning’s temperatures dipped below 32°. Mild weather prevails across the remainder of the region, while isolated showers are confined to parts of Indiana and Ohio.

In the South, warm, dry weather is promoting fieldwork and crop growth. However, drought is adversely affecting some pastures, winter grains, and emerging summer crops across the lower Southeast. Other drought-related impacts include heavy irrigation demands and an increased risk of wildfires.

In the West, a few showers are returning to the northern Pacific Coast. Elsewhere, warm, dry weather is promoting fieldwork and crop development, following an extended period of cool conditions.