Across U.S. farm country, the past 24 hours delivered a familiar early‑September mix: late‑summer heat in the Plains and California interior, scattered to locally heavy thunderstorms from the Southern Plains through portions of the Corn Belt and Southeast, and generally drier conditions across much of the West outside the higher terrain of the Southwest. Humidity remained seasonably high east of the Rockies, supporting pockets of heavy downpours and brief field delays, while smoke and fire-weather concerns persisted in parts of the Pacific Northwest and interior West.

Regional roundup: last 24 hours

Midwest Corn Belt

Spotty thunderstorms and downpours affected portions of the western and central Corn Belt, with many other areas dry. Temperatures were seasonable to warm, supporting ongoing corn and soybean filling while keeping topsoil moisture variable field-to-field.

Northern Plains (Dakotas, Montana, northern Nebraska)

Mostly warm and breezy with limited rainfall outside isolated storms. Evaporation rates remained elevated, keeping rangeland and late-maturing small grains on the dry side in places.

Central and Southern Plains (Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas Panhandle)

Hot, humid conditions persisted with scattered late‑day thunderstorms producing localized heavy rain and gusty winds. Heat stress remained a factor for livestock during afternoon hours.

Delta and Lower Mississippi Valley

Warm, muggy weather with scattered showers and storms. Brief, heavy downpours created isolated short‑term fieldwork interruptions but also offered beneficial top‑offs to soil moisture for late soybeans and pasture.

Southeast and Gulf Coast

Seasonably hot and humid with numerous afternoon and evening thunderstorms near the Gulf Coast and Florida; coverage was more scattered inland. Localized ponding and lightning delays were the primary concerns.

Northeast

Generally seasonable with pockets of showers and a few thunderstorms, most numerous over interior higher terrain. Many valleys stayed dry and suitable for haying during wider midday windows.

Southwest and Four Corners

Monsoon activity continued to wane but still produced isolated mountain storms; deserts were largely hot and dry. Irrigation demand remained high.

California (Central Valley and Coastal)

Hot, dry interiors contrasted with coastal marine influences and morning low clouds. Specialty crop harvests advanced under stable weather, with heat management still important in interior valleys.

Pacific Northwest

Mostly dry with warm afternoons and low humidity inland; onshore flow brought some coastal clouds. Fire weather and smoke variability remained ongoing considerations away from the coast.

Seven‑day outlook for key agricultural regions

Expect a classic late‑summer pattern: periodic cold fronts sweeping the northern tier and Upper Midwest, day‑to‑day thunderstorm chances in the central and southern states tied to moisture and boundaries, and continued general dryness in much of the West aside from isolated mountain convection. The tropical season remains active in early September; any Gulf or Atlantic development could quickly shift rainfall totals in the Southeast and Gulf Coast. Monitor local forecasts for updates.

Midwest Corn Belt

  • Temperatures: Near to slightly above normal; warmest west and south. Highs commonly upper 70s to upper 80s, with occasional low 90s toward Missouri/Iowa/Kansas fringes.
  • Precipitation: Scattered showers and thunderstorms every 1–3 days, most frequent along and ahead of passing fronts in the Upper Midwest and central Corn Belt. Coverage uneven, favoring localized 0.25–1.00 inch totals where storms repeat.
  • Field impacts: Generally supportive of grain fill; brief harvest prep delays possible after heavier cells. Watch for wind and hail with stronger storms along frontal passages.

Northern Plains (Dakotas, Montana, northern Nebraska)

  • Temperatures: Near to above normal, with warm, breezy afternoons; a brief cool‑down possible behind a late‑week front.
  • Precipitation: Limited overall, with isolated to scattered storms tied to frontal timing. Many locales remain on the drier side.
  • Field impacts: Good progress windows for small grain harvest wrap‑up and late‑season fieldwork; monitor for elevated fire danger on windy, dry days.

Central and Southern Plains (Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas Panhandle)

  • Temperatures: Above normal heat persists much of the period, with hottest conditions Texas/Oklahoma early and midweek.
  • Precipitation: Day‑to‑day thunderstorm chances, primarily late afternoon/evening and near boundaries; locally heavy downpours where storms slow.
  • Field impacts: Heat stress for livestock and late summer crops during peak afternoon hours; spotty relief where storms occur. Variable soil moisture continues.

Delta and Lower Mississippi Valley

  • Temperatures: Near to slightly above normal, humid.
  • Precipitation: Scattered to numerous showers and storms on multiple days, especially during the afternoon and evening. Local heavy rain possible.
  • Field impacts: Short, intermittent delays for rice and soybean operations where downpours develop; otherwise adequate moisture supports late crops and pasture.

Southeast and Gulf Coast

  • Temperatures: Seasonably hot and humid; heat indices elevated on sunnier days.
  • Precipitation: Daily chances for thunderstorms, greatest along the Gulf Coast, Florida, and coastal Carolinas. Keep close watch on tropical signals; any system could quickly enhance rainfall and onshore winds.
  • Field impacts: Frequent but brief weather windows; plan harvest and sprays around midday stability and radar trends. Localized flooding possible in persistent storm corridors.

Northeast

  • Temperatures: Near normal to slightly warm inland; cooler near the coast at times.
  • Precipitation: Periodic showers and a few storms with weak fronts; many hours still dry between waves.
  • Field impacts: Generally favorable for haylage and produce harvests with some timing around light showers; isolated strong storm risk cannot be ruled out inland.

Southwest and Four Corners

  • Temperatures: Above normal heat in deserts; warm to seasonable at elevation with cooler nights.
  • Precipitation: Isolated higher‑terrain storms; overall monsoon trend subdued compared to mid‑season peaks.
  • Field impacts: High irrigation demand persists; dust and air quality issues possible near construction/harvested fields and along dry fronts.

California (Central Valley, Coastal, Desert)

  • Temperatures: Hot inland valleys; marine influence keeps coastal zones milder with morning low clouds/fog.
  • Precipitation: Very low chances; dry overall.
  • Field impacts: Steady harvest conditions for grapes, nuts, and processing tomatoes; manage worker heat exposure in afternoon peaks. Elevated fire weather inland on breezy days.

Pacific Northwest

  • Temperatures: Near to above normal inland; cooler near the coast with onshore flow.
  • Precipitation: Limited; slight chances in the northern mountains late with a weak disturbance.
  • Field impacts: Largely favorable harvest windows; monitor smoke intrusions and localized fire weather on windy afternoons east of the Cascades.

Rockies and Intermountain West

  • Temperatures: Warm afternoons with cool nighttime lows in valleys and basins.
  • Precipitation: Isolated mountain showers/storms; broadly dry in many valleys.
  • Field impacts: Good haying and small‑grain harvest windows; watch for gusty outflow winds near isolated storms.

Hazards and risk highlights this week

  • Heat stress: Repeated hot afternoons in the Southern Plains, Texas, and California interior. Adjust livestock water and shade; schedule field labor for early/late day.
  • Heavy downpours and localized flash flooding: Scattered risk from the Southern Plains through the Delta and Southeast, and along frontal zones in the central/upper Midwest.
  • Severe storm potential: Isolated wind/hail episodes possible along stronger fronts in the Plains and Midwest.
  • Tropical monitoring: Gulf and Atlantic waters are climatologically active; any development could shift rainfall quickly along the Gulf Coast and Southeast.
  • Fire weather and smoke: Elevated risk at times east of the Cascades, Great Basin, and Northern Rockies with warm, dry, breezy periods.

Agronomic implications and fieldwork planning

  • Corn and soybean (Midwest): Mostly supportive finish to grain fill; plan nitrogen/foliar and fungicide decisions around storm windows and leaf wetness. Walk fields after storms to assess lodging.
  • Sorghum and cotton (Southern Plains, Delta): Heat favors maturity; rainfall variability complicates defoliation and harvest timing—target drier 24–36 hour stretches.
  • Rice (Delta, Mid‑South): Intermittent storms may slow harvest briefly; maintain drainage readiness where heavier cells repeat.
  • Hay and forage: Best windows in the Northern Plains, Intermountain West, and much of the Northwest; narrower windows in the Southeast and Delta due to daily convection.
  • Specialty crops (California, Pacific Northwest): Largely steady harvest conditions; manage worker heat and monitor smoke/air quality impacts.
  • Livestock: Heat stress management remains important in the Southern Plains, Delta, and California interior. Provide ample water, shade, and adjust handling schedules.

Planning timeline

Days 1–3

  • Fronts trigger scattered storms from the northern Plains into the Upper Midwest; daily convection continues Gulf Coast/Southeast and parts of the Southern Plains.
  • Hottest inland conditions in California and Texas/Oklahoma; largely dry West outside isolated mountain storms.

Days 4–7

  • Another front sweeps the northern tier and into the central Corn Belt with additional storm clusters; warmth lingers south.
  • Maintain tropical awareness along the Gulf and Southeast; otherwise, West stays mostly dry with localized fire weather concerns.

For field‑level decisions, always pair this regional outlook with your local National Weather Service forecast, radar trends, and extension guidance. Conditions can vary sharply over short distances this time of year.