Weather

Wide-ranging temperatures across the Heartland

On the Plains, warmth lingers across Oklahoma and Texas, but sub-zero temperatures blanket Montana and the Dakotas. Gusty winds and snow showers are adding to the discomfort for livestock on the northern Plains.

Across the Corn Belt, bitterly cold weather has returned across the upper Midwest, bringing renewed stress on livestock. Upper Midwestern producers are also bracing for wintry precipitation (snow, sleet, and freezing rain), expected to arrive later Tuesday. In contrast, mild weather continues in the Ohio Valley, where Tuesday’s maximum temperatures may again approach or reach 60°.

In the South, warm weather is promoting some growth of winter grains and cover crops. Tuesday’s high temperatures will again approach 80° in the western Gulf Coast region. Any rain is generally light and confined to the lower Mississippi Valley.

In the West, cool weather accompanies widespread rain and snow showers, especially from California to the Intermountain region. However, heavy rain has tapered to showers in parts of California that have recently experienced flash flooding and debris flows, allowing recovery efforts to commence.