USDA: Several Inches of Rain Expected for the Northern U.S.
USDA's Joint Ag Weather Facility says in the Corn Belt, scattered showers are returning to areas west of the Mississippi River, causing renewed planting delays. "By June 9, at least one-tenth of the corn remained to be planted in Wisconsin (19% left to plant), North Dakota (11%) and Minnesota (10%), while at least one-third of the soybeans had not yet been sown in Missouri (52% left to plant), Wisconsin (45%), Iowa (40%) and Illinois (38%)," USDA details.
In the West, USDA reports cooler air continues to gradually spread inland from the Pacific Coast. "Lingering heat across the Intermountain West and Southwest is promoting the development of irriga ted crops, but increasing the threat of wildfire activity and further stressing rangeland and pastures," USDA explains.
On the Plains, USDA says scattered showers dot the northern half of the region. "Producers in North Dakota continue to struggle to plant spring wheat—77% planted on June 9—and other crops," USDA explains. Meanwhile on the central and southern High Plains, very hot, dry weather is promoting winter wheat maturation and harvesting, but maintaining significant stress on rangeland, pastures, and rain-fed summer crops, according to USDA.
In the South, isolated showers linger in the southern Atlantic states and along the Gulf Coast, USDA reports. Elsewhere, hot, dry weather favors crop development and fieldwork, including late-season planting activities and winter wheat harvesting, USDA continues.
In its outlook, USDA says an active weather pattern will continue through week’s end, especially from the northern Plains into the Northeast. "Five-day rainfall totals will exceed an inch in many areas across the northern half of the U.S., with 2- to 5-inch amounts possible from Iowa to Pennsylvania," USDA details. Some of the rainfall will occur in the form of strong thunderstorms, it adds. "n contrast, hot, mostly dry weather will dominate areas from the central and southern High Plains into the Southeast," USDA says. In the Southwest, USDA reports breezy weather and an enhanced risk of wildfires will accompany a transition to cooler weather, although the cool spell will be short-lived.
