Unsettled weather returns to parts of the Heartland

Weather

Unsettled weather returns to parts of the Heartland

Across the Corn Belt, frost was noted Friday morning in portions of the upper Great Lakes region, well north of major corn and soybean production areas. Most of the remainder of the Midwest is experiencing near- or below-normal temperatures. This week’s rain has boosted topsoil moisture in some previously dry areas of the Corn Belt—but generally arrived too late to benefit maturing corn and soybeans.

On the Plains, cool weather and spotty showers linger in the wake of the passage of a cold front. Producers in North Dakota and portions of neighboring states continue to monitor the impact of the unusually early (September 8-9) freezes on immature corn and other late-planted summer crops.

In the South, unsettled, showery weather continues in parts of the Atlantic Coast States and the eastern Gulf Coast region. However, the flash flood threat is subsiding in the middle Atlantic coastal plain, following Wednesday’s heavy rain. Across interior sections of the South, warm, mostly dry weather favors summer crop maturation and harvesting.

In the West, the threat of new wildfires has diminished mainly due to lighter winds, but many active fires continue to exhibit erratic behavior. Near Crescent Mills, California, the North Complex—sparked by lightning on August 18—has suddenly become one of the state’s most formidable fires, with approximately one-quarter million acres burned, numerous evacuation orders in effect, and several communities threatened. Thick smoke continues to degrade air quality in portions of the Pacific Coast States.