More high wind on the northern High Plains, seasonally mild across the Corn Belt

Weather

More high wind on the northern High Plains, seasonally mild across the Corn Belt

In the Corn Belt, mild, dry weather is promoting late-season harvest efforts. Among Midwestern States, only Michigan and Ohio had appreciable corn remaining in the field; both had harvested 89% of the crop by November 28. On the same date, the soybean harvest was 92% complete in Michigan and 91% complete in Ohio. Not coincidentally, Michigan and Ohio led the Midwest on November 28 in topsoil moisture rated surplus—39 and 31%, respectively.

On the Plains, extremely windy weather is developing in north-central Montana, where Tuesday’s peak gusts could range from 60 to 90 mph. High winds are aggravating drought’s impact on Montana’s winter wheat, which on November 28 was rated 56% very poor to poor. Drought is also adversely affecting wheat on the central and southern High Plains, with ongoing warmth contributing to topsoil moisture depletion. On that date, 45% of Texas’ winter wheat was rated in very poor to poor condition, followed by Colorado (33%) and South Dakota (26%).

In the South, dry weather favors fieldwork, including winter wheat planting and cotton and peanut harvesting. On November 28, the only Southeastern States with at least one-fifth of the cotton remaining in the field were Georgia (76% harvested) and South Carolina (80%). In Louisiana, the sugarcane harvest was 62% complete by November 28, versus the 5-year average of 67%.

In the West, another round of heavy precipitation is pushing inland across western Washington, maintaining the flood threat across the northern Cascades and the Olympic Peninsula. Mild, dry weather covers the remainder of the West, favoring late-autumn fieldwork. California’s cotton harvest—99% complete on November 28—is finishing early, as the 5-year average for that date is 87%.

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