Weather over the past 24 hours brought a mixed bag of late-summer heat, scattered thunderstorms, and patchy relief from dryness across U.S. agricultural regions. Field operations generally proceeded where storms were brief and spotty, while high humidity and locally heavy downpours produced short-term delays in pockets of the Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Southeast. Western growing areas largely remained dry, with heat persisting inland.
Corn Belt and Upper Midwest
Last 24 hours
Producers encountered a familiar early-September pattern: warm to very warm afternoons, muggy nights, and scattered, hit-or-miss thunderstorms—most numerous near lingering frontal boundaries. Where storms developed, brief heavy rain and gusty outflows led to isolated field slowdowns and minor lodging; nearby fields stayed dry, preserving harvest and haying windows.
Next 7 days
- Temperature: A couple of warm-to-hot days will be followed by a modest cool-down as one or two fronts sweep east. Nights trend more comfortable mid- to late-week.
- Rainfall: Intermittent shower/thunderstorm chances tied to frontal passages, especially central/eastern Corn Belt. Coverage uneven; some counties get meaningful rain, others miss out.
- Ag impacts: Late corn and soy filling benefit from periodic moisture and reduced heat late-period. Expect several workable field windows between rounds of storms; watch for short-term soil compaction where downpours occur. Hay curing improves after fronts with drier air.
Northern Plains (Dakotas, Montana, Northern Nebraska)
Last 24 hours
Mostly dry to partly cloudy with breezy stretches. A few fast-moving storms fired along boundaries, producing localized downpours and small hail in spots while many areas stayed dry.
Next 7 days
- Temperature: Seasonable to slightly above normal early, then a cooler push midweek behind a passing disturbance.
- Rainfall: Light to moderate, mainly scattered and frontal. Highest chances along/east of advancing fronts; western zones stay drier overall.
- Ag impacts: Small grain harvest and late-season fieldwork see decent windows; brief wind and spotty heavy cells may cause localized delays. Pastures stabilize where showers occur; wildfire risk stays locally elevated on warmer, windy days.
Southern Plains and Southwest High Plains (Kansas south to Texas/Oklahoma, eastern NM/CO)
Last 24 hours
Heat remained a key factor, with sultry conditions across Texas and Oklahoma. Scattered late-day storms dotted portions of the High Plains and along outflow boundaries, producing localized heavy rain, lightning, and gusty winds.
Next 7 days
- Temperature: Hot early in the period (especially Texas), easing slightly mid- to late-week as fronts edge south and cloud cover increases at times.
- Rainfall: Daily isolated to scattered storms, more favored over the High Plains and along frontal zones. Coverage variable; some locales may see multiple rounds, others remain mostly dry.
- Ag impacts: Heat stress on livestock and irrigated crops persists early; monitor water/ET demand. Cotton bolls opening advance with heat units; protect quality where storms could drop heavy rain. Sorghum and late corn benefit from midweek cooling and any timely showers.
Delta and Lower Mississippi Valley
Last 24 hours
Very warm and humid with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms in spots, yielding brief, intense downpours and lightning. Fields nearby remained dry, underscoring the patchy nature of rainfall.
Next 7 days
- Temperature: Warm to hot with high humidity; modest relief possible late-week if a front sags south.
- Rainfall: Daily shower/storm chances continue. Localized heavy rain possible, especially near any lingering boundaries.
- Ag impacts: Cotton, rice, and soy harvest windows remain episodic; plan around afternoon storm timing. Watch for boll rot and lint staining where rains repeat; rice maturity and harvest logistics improve during drier intervals.
Southeast (Gulf States, Carolinas, southern Appalachians)
Last 24 hours
Typical late-summer pattern with sultry mornings, scattered afternoon storms, and locally heavy rain. Coastal and piedmont areas saw the most convection; inland pockets remained dry.
Next 7 days
- Temperature: Seasonably hot with muggy nights; slight cooling where clouds and showers persist.
- Rainfall: Daily storm chances continue, with localized 1–2 day stretches of heavier coverage if a stalled boundary or tropical moisture plume develops.
- Ag impacts: Peanut and cotton producers should monitor disease pressure post-rain. Pastures supported by humidity and intermittent rain. Short fieldwork windows between storms; plan harvest and haying for mornings and post-frontal periods.
Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Specialty Crops
Last 24 hours
Warm, humid conditions with scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially near terrain and frontal boundaries. Localized downpours affected orchard operations in spots; many areas stayed workable.
Next 7 days
- Temperature: A warm start transitions to more comfortable late-week air behind a passing front.
- Rainfall: One or two rounds of showers/storms with frontal passages; otherwise dry intervals support harvests.
- Ag impacts: Apple and grape harvests benefit from post-frontal drying; monitor fruit cracking and rot risks where heavy bursts occur. Shorter, cooler nights later in the week improve quality for some specialty crops.
California Central Valley
Last 24 hours
Predominantly dry with hot afternoons inland. Marine influence kept coastal zones milder, but interior orchards and vineyards experienced high evapotranspiration.
Next 7 days
- Temperature: Warm to hot persists; periodic Delta breeze may temper late-day heat in the north and west of the Valley.
- Rainfall: Dry.
- Ag impacts: Grape harvest continues with heat aiding ripening but elevating dehydration and sunburn risk; canopy management and targeted irrigation remain critical. Nut harvests proceed with good field footing; dust and air quality considerations remain.
Pacific Northwest (WA/OR valleys, irrigated Columbia Basin)
Last 24 hours
Mostly dry with seasonable warmth inland and onshore flow moderating coastal areas. Isolated light showers possible near the Cascades or coastal ranges.
Next 7 days
- Temperature: Near to slightly above normal inland early; a weak trough may bring cooler, breezier conditions late-week.
- Rainfall: Light, mainly in higher terrain and coastal zones; interior stays largely dry.
- Ag impacts: Apple and pear harvests supported by dry weather; watch for brief wind events. Irrigated crops maintain steady water demand; smoke issues remain dependent on any nearby fire activity and wind shifts.
Intermountain West and Rockies
Last 24 hours
Variable clouds with isolated high-elevation showers and thunderstorms; most valleys remained dry. Breezy passes at times.
Next 7 days
- Temperature: Seasonable days with cool nights; modest cooling mid- to late-week behind a passing disturbance.
- Rainfall: Isolated to scattered mountain storms; valley floors largely dry aside from brief outflow-driven showers.
- Ag impacts: Good harvest weather overall; watch for lightning and gusty outflows near storms. High-elevation frost risk remains low but not zero in typical cold basins late in the week.
Desert Southwest
Last 24 hours
Hot and mostly dry outside of isolated monsoon leftovers in higher terrain. Urban and low desert zones saw strong sun and high ET rates.
Next 7 days
- Temperature: Persistently hot; some moderation possible late-week if clouds increase over higher terrain.
- Rainfall: Limited overall, with isolated mountain storms; deserts remain largely dry.
- Ag impacts: Irrigation demand stays high; heat stress management for livestock and workers remains a priority. Field access excellent where dry conditions persist.
Risk Dashboard (Next 7 Days)
- Heat stress: Elevated early in the week for Southern Plains, Delta, Southeast, and interior California; moderate elsewhere.
- Heavy rain/flash flooding: Localized risk in the Southeast, Delta, and parts of the Midwest during storm days; highly variable coverage.
- Severe thunderstorms: Isolated risk along frontal zones in the Plains and Midwest, mainly mid-period; hazards include gusty winds, hail, and lightning.
- Wind and fire weather: Breezy, dry periods in parts of the Northern Plains and Intermountain West may briefly elevate fire danger.
- Early-season cool shots: Modest cool-downs behind fronts in the Plains, Midwest, and Northeast; widespread frost risk remains low outside of high valleys.
Fieldwork Windows and Management Notes
- Corn Belt/Upper Midwest: Plan around passing fronts; best multi-day windows likely 24–48 hours after frontal passage when dewpoints fall.
- Northern Plains: Generally favorable windows with brief interruptions tied to quick-moving showers and wind.
- Southern Plains/Delta/Southeast: Use morning hours for harvest and haying before scattered afternoon storms; monitor quality concerns for cotton and peanuts where rains repeat.
- California/PNW: Predominantly dry support for harvest; manage heat and dust, and watch for late-week breezy intervals.
- Intermountain/Southwest: Largely dry with isolated mountain storms; irrigation and heat mitigation remain key in the low deserts.
Outlook Confidence
Confidence is medium for the general pattern of late-summer heat in the South, periodic fronts bringing scattered storms to the Plains/Midwest, and continued dryness in the far West. Confidence is lower at the county scale due to the hit-or-miss nature of thunderstorms and any potential tropical moisture influences along the Gulf and Southeast coasts.