Weather

Rains exit the far eastern Corn Belt, but continue on the far southern Plains

Across the Corn Belt, showers in the vicinity of a cold front are gradually ending across the Ohio Valley and the lower Great Lakes region.  Mild, dry weather covers the remainder of the Midwest.  Although temperatures are generally favorable for filling to maturing corn and soybeans, pockets of drought are keeping some crops from reaching maximum yield potential.  On August 28, topsoil moisture was rated 81% very short to short in Nebraska, along with 61% in South Dakota.

On the Plains, drought-easing showers have returned in parts of Texas, although many summer crops are too mature to benefit.  During the week ending August 28, topsoil moisture rated very short to short improved from 71 to 60% in Texas and from 80 to 73% in Oklahoma.  On that date, however, topsoil moisture was still rated at least three-quarters very short to short in Nebraska (81%), Kansas (80%), and Montana (77%).  U.S. crops that have significantly suffered due to this summer’s drought include sorghum (currently rated 44% very poor to poor) and cotton (36% very poor to poor).

In the South, warm, humid weather continues.  Showers linger along the southern Atlantic Coast, while a broken band of rain extends from the western Gulf Coast region into the Tennessee Valley.  Meanwhile, the Pearl River in Jackson, Mississippi, crested 7.37 feet above flood stage on Monday, with a corresponding loss of potable water for that city.

In the West, hot, dry weather favors late-summer fieldwork.  Conditions in recent weeks have been ideal for Northwestern small grain maturation and harvesting.  However, Northwestern wildfires continue to generate locally smoky conditions, especially in southwestern Oregon.  Tuesday’s high temperatures could reach 100°F as far north as southeastern Washington, while readings above 115°F may occur in the Desert Southwest.