Weather

Hot weather builds in the Plains, a warm-up to the east; largely dry across the Heartland

Across the Corn Belt, a late-season hot spell has commenced, especially west of the Mississippi River, where Friday’s high temperatures will generally range from 90 to 100°F.  The western Corn Belt’s hot, dry weather favors corn and soybean maturation, while producers in the eastern Corn Belt are observing a slower pace of crop development. 

On the Plains, dry weather accompanies a late-season heat wave.  Friday’s high temperatures could reach 100°F as far north as South Dakota.  Amid the heat and diminishing topsoil moisture reserves, summer crops are rapidly maturing.  Additionally, producers are preparing for the upcoming winter wheat planting season.

In the South, hurricane recovery efforts continue, especially in areas along the Gulf Coast of Florida affected by a record-setting storm surge on Wednesday morning.  In Idalia’s wake, scattered showers have returned across the Southeast, including parts of Florida.  Meanwhile, historically hot, dry weather persists in the western Gulf Coast region.  According to the August 29 U.S. Drought Monitor, 74% of Louisiana is experiencing extreme to exceptional drought.

In the West, a late-season monsoon surge extending northeastward from the Desert Southwest is resulting in locally heavy showers and pockets of flash flooding.  Separately, a cold front is producing a few Northwestern showers.  Notably, the Northwestern showers are aiding wildfire containment efforts but causing minor small grain harvest delays.