Weather

“Quiet” weather across the Heartland; a wide-range of temperatures, snow cover

Across the Corn Belt, mostly cloudy but dry weather prevails.  Early Friday, a few sub-zero temperatures were reported across the upper Midwest, where an extensive snow cover remains in place.  In Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, where snow has been continuously on the ground since November 29, snowfall earlier this week (on January 3-4) totaled 14.8 inches.

On the Plains, chilly conditions are mostly limited to the Dakotas, where today’s high temperatures will generally range from 10 to 25°F.  In contrast, temperatures will top 75°F later Friday in much of Texas.  Dry weather prevails throughout the region.  At the end of December, one-quarter to one-half of the winter wheat was rated in very poor to poor condition in Oklahoma (27%), Nebraska (36%), and Kansas (49%).

In the South, mild, dry weather follows the passage of a weak cold front.  Producers in the Deep South continue to assess impacts from the late-December cold wave, which resulted in damage to a variety of crops.  Growers in Louisiana reported “significant burn to the [winter] wheat crop,” while farmers in Mississippi noted “severe damage to winter wheat and cover crops in some areas.”

In the West, rain and snow showers are temporarily subsiding across California, which lies between storms. However, a new Pacific storm system is approaching the West Coast.  Farther inland, rain and snow showers accompany mild conditions across the Intermountain West.  Salt Lake City, Utah, is receiving light rain this morning, following 6.0 inches of snow from January 1-3.