Weather

Largely favorable fall weather continues across much of the Heartland

Across the Corn Belt, dry, warmer weather is overspreading the region following the weekend cold snap, promoting corn and soybean harvesting efforts.  However, drought continues to expand and intensify over the western half of the Corn Belt.

On the Plains, mostly dry weather prevails, with abnormal warmth over the northern two-thirds of the region contrasting with somewhat cooler conditions on the southern Plains.  However, a strong cold front is bringing showers and cooler temperatures to Montana this morning.  Moisture supplies remained limited for winter wheat, especially over southern Kansas, Oklahoma, and northern Texas.

In the South, dry conditions are promoting summer crop harvesting and other seasonal fieldwork.  Likewise, sunny skies are facilitating hurricane recovery efforts in Florida, although moderate to major flooding continues; water levels in the Peace River basin have receded but remain very high along the St. Johns River. 

In the West, warm, dry weather is promoting a rapid pace of summer crop harvesting but causing Northwestern drought to intensify.  Tuesday’s highs will again reach into the 90s degrees from the San Joaquin Valley into the Desert Southwest.