Weather
Comfortable weather covers most of the Corn Belt
Across the Corn Belt, cool, dry weather prevails. Drought-affected sections of the Midwest—encompassing about 7% of the region, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor—would greatly benefit from rain, although the majority of U.S. corn and soybeans (69 and 72%, respectively) were rated in good to excellent condition on August 16.
On the Plains, late-summer heat continues to build across Montana and the Dakotas, favoring small grain harvesting. Meanwhile, widely scattered showers dot the central Plains, while dry weather prevails on the southern Plains. On August 16, drought-affected Colorado led the Plains with rangeland and pastures rated 55% very poor to poor, followed by Texas at 46%.
In the South, widespread showers and thunderstorms stretch from the mid-Atlantic to the eastern half of the Gulf Coast region. Meanwhile, dry weather across the mid-South and western Gulf Coast region is promoting fieldwork, including corn and rice harvesting.
In the West, record-setting heat continues to reduce soil moisture and stress rangeland and pastures. On August 16, nearly every Western State reported topsoil moisture rated at least one-half very short to short, led by New Mexico (85% very short to short), Colorado (80%), and California (75%). In addition, an elevated wildfire threat exists from parts of California to the northern Rockies, in part due to gusty winds, low humidity levels, and the possibility of lightning.
