Weather

More rain overspreads the Midwestern Corn Belt

Across the Corn Belt, rain is overspreading areas from the Mississippi Valley westward. Meanwhile, mild, dry weather prevails in the eastern Corn Belt, where Tuesday’s high temperatures could reach or exceed 70°.

On the Plains, a storm system crossing Kansas is producing chilly rain across a broad area. The rain is generally benefiting rangeland, pastures, and winter wheat, although flash flooding is occurring in a few areas across the central Plains. Elsewhere, cool, breezy conditions cover the southern Plains, while unfavorably dry weather persists across much of the northern Plains. Among reporting states on the Plains, Texas is experiencing the lowest winter wheat condition— 29% very poor to poor and 29% good to excellent on March 22, according to USDA/NASS.

In the South, showers and thunderstorms are sweeping across the lower Mississippi Valley. Meanwhile, dry weather favors spring fieldwork in the Atlantic Coast States. Dry conditions have developed, however, across parts of Florida’s peninsula; on March 22, statewide topsoil moisture in Florida was rated 40% very short to short.

In the West, a Pacific storm system has moved inland and is producing rain and snow showers across the Great Basin, Intermountain West, and Southwest. High winds have developed across portions of California and the Great Basin.