Weather

More rain across parts of the southern Corn Belt

Across the Corn Belt, mostly dry weather accompanies near- or above-normal temperatures. However, precipitation is quickly approaching the southern Corn Belt; significant rain is already falling Tuesday morning in southern Missouri. A few rain showers are also overspreading the western Corn Belt, including eastern South Dakotas and environs.

On the Plains, overnight showers and thunderstorms swept eastward, mainly across Kansas and Oklahoma. Recent and ongoing precipitation has improved soil moisture and the condition of winter wheat on the central and southern Plains. In Texas, statewide topsoil moisture rated very short to short stood at 19% on March 22, down from 40% the previous week. On the same date, 77% of the winter wheat in Oklahoma was rated in good to excellent condition, along with nearly one-half of the crop in Texas (49%) and Kansas (48%).

In the South, locally heavy showers and thunderstorms are occurring early Tuesday from the Ozark Plateau into the Tennessee Valley, maintaining soggy conditions and causing local flooding. Meanwhile, warm, dry conditions across the Deep South are promoting spring fieldwork but reducing soil moisture for crop germination and establishment. In Texas, roughly one-third of the intended corn (36%) and sorghum acreage (31%) had been planted by March 22.

In the West, dry weather has returned across southern California and the Southwest. Meanwhile, scattered to widespread rain and snow showers are affecting the Northwest. Chilly weather prevails throughout the West.