Weather
Quiet, near-seasonal pattern across the Corn Belt
Across Corn Belt, frost and freezes occurred Monday morning across large sections of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, as well as portions of neighboring states. Despite the chilly weather, Midwestern conditions remain mostly favorable for corn and soybean maturation and harvesting. Currently, mild air is replacing previously cool conditions in the western Corn Belt.
On the Plains, mild, breezy weather is developing in advance of a weak cold front. Dry weather continues to promote summer crop maturation and harvesting, as well as winter wheat planting. In many areas of the High Plains, however, moisture is limited for winter wheat germination and establishment.
In the South, a plume of moisture that includes Tropical Storm Gamma is contributing to showery weather across Florida’s peninsula. Gamma, currently located just north of the Yucatan Peninsula, is being disrupted by shear, or strong upper-level winds, which is keeping most of the storm’s heavy rain displaced well to the northeast of its center. Aside from Florida’s wet weather, cool, dry Southern conditions favor summer crop maturation and harvesting.
In the West, dry weather persists, as drought continues to worsen amid record-setting high temperatures. On October 4, daily-record highs included 105° in Phoenix, Arizona, 100° in Lancaster, California; and 83° in Wenatchee, Washington. Phoenix has recorded a high temperature of 100° or greater on 22 consecutive days, starting September 13.
