A volatile early-autumn pattern is shaping fieldwork from coast to coast. Over the past day, most major production belts experienced seasonable to slightly cool mornings, wide day–night temperature swings, and a patchwork of light showers concentrated along passing fronts. The West stayed largely dry outside of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, while the central and eastern U.S. saw spotty precipitation and breezy periods that at times hindered spraying but aided grain drying. Looking ahead, a series of fall fronts will step through the central U.S. and slide east, bringing alternating windows of dry-down and interruptions from scattered rain. The first meaningful frost pockets of the season remain possible across northern tier areas and high terrain. Growers should anticipate rapid changes in wind and humidity with each frontal passage, elevated fire weather in the drier Plains and interior West, and localized field delays where bands of rain persist.
Note: Conditions can vary significantly over short distances. For localized, real-time conditions and alerts, consult your nearest National Weather Service office or state mesonet.
Upper Midwest and Northern Corn Belt (Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northern Iowa, Northern Nebraska)
Last 24 hours
- Patchy light showers and areas of drizzle near frontal boundaries; many locations remained dry but damp early-day surfaces were common where fog formed.
- Cool mornings with large afternoon warm-ups under breaks in cloud cover; breezy periods favored grain drying but challenged spray windows.
- Localized low clouds and mist near lakes and river valleys reduced early visibility.
Next 7 days
- Days 1–3: Intermittent, fast-moving light showers with a passing front; most totals spotty, but narrow corridors may pick up measurable rain capable of pausing harvest briefly. Temperatures trend seasonable to a bit cool with crisp nights.
- Days 4–7: A cooler, drier regime is favored behind the front with several good harvest windows. Patchy frost risk returns in typical northern low spots if skies clear and winds ease at night; monitor sensitive late-maturing crops.
- Ag impacts: Generally favorable drying between shower episodes; scattered, short-lived field delays where showers align. Watch for soybean shatter when dry/cool cycles repeat and for reduced efficacy of contact herbicides during cool mornings.
Central Corn Belt (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Southern Wisconsin, Southern Minnesota, Missouri)
Last 24 hours
- Variable cloud cover with isolated showers and gusty winds along a weak front; many fields remained suitable for ongoing harvest.
- Humidity fluctuated with frontal timing, briefly elevating grain moisture before drier air returned.
Next 7 days
- Days 1–3: One or two frontal passages bring scattered light to locally moderate showers; most locations see limited totals but any slow-moving bands could cause short delays.
- Days 4–7: Drying trend with cooler nights and mild afternoons supports steady harvest progress. Fog-prone bottoms may see morning delays.
- Ag impacts: Net-positive harvest windows, punctuated by brief weather interruptions. Windier periods can increase lodging risk in over-mature corn; plan harvest order accordingly.
Southern Plains (Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas Panhandle and Rolling Plains)
Last 24 hours
- Predominantly dry with brisk breezes; very low afternoon humidity across western zones elevated grassland fire potential.
- Large diurnal temperature range; cool mornings, warm afternoons.
Next 7 days
- Days 1–3: Mostly dry. A weak boundary could spark isolated, brief showers near the Red River and eastern sections; western areas stay parched and breezy.
- Days 4–7: Another front increases cloud cover and introduces a limited rain chance, mainly east. Western High Plains remain dry to much drier than normal.
- Ag impacts: Favorable for small grain planting progress where soil moisture exists; moisture deficits persist west. Elevated wildfire and blowing dust risk on the windiest afternoons; schedule fieldwork and livestock transport accordingly.
Central and Northern Plains (Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Eastern Wyoming, Eastern Colorado, Western Kansas)
Last 24 hours
- Spotty light showers near a passing disturbance; much of the region remained breezy and dry with rapid afternoon drying rates.
- Cool to seasonable temperatures; colder pockets in high plains and sheltered valleys.
Next 7 days
- Days 1–3: Fast-moving fronts bring brief showers east; west stays largely dry. Nighttime chill persists with localized frost potential in typical cold spots.
- Days 4–7: Mostly dry with a reinforcing cool push; wind events possible along frontal edges.
- Ag impacts: Good harvest continuity where crops are mature; watch for combine fire risk in very dry stubble and static buildup on windy, low-humidity days.
Delta and Mid-South (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Western Tennessee, Western Kentucky)
Last 24 hours
- Muggy stretches with pockets of light showers or a brief thunderstorm; many locations still had usable afternoon field windows.
- Patchy morning fog around waterways and low-lying fields.
Next 7 days
- Days 1–3: Intervals of clouds with scattered showers or storms, mainly near and ahead of a front. Not a washout, but periodic interruptions likely.
- Days 4–7: Trending drier and slightly cooler behind the front; improved field access returns.
- Ag impacts: Cotton defoliation windows improve late period; monitor boll exposure where showers linger. Rice and soy harvest may see start-stop rhythm early, then better progress late.
Southeast and Gulf Coast (AL/GA/FL Panhandle, Carolinas, Southern Georgia, Coastal Gulf)
Last 24 hours
- Warm, humid conditions with scattered to numerous afternoon showers and storms near the coast and sea-breeze boundaries; inland areas more isolated activity.
- Gusty storm outflows created short-lived wind and debris concerns in small areas.
Next 7 days
- Days 1–3: Daily shower/storm chances persist, focused during the warmest hours and near the Gulf/Atlantic coasts; a front edging in from the west increases coverage at times.
- Days 4–7: Gradual drying trend inland; coastal zones keep periodic showers. Monitor for any tropical disturbances over adjacent waters typical of early October.
- Ag impacts: Field access remains variable near the coast; inland windows improve later. Disease pressure stays elevated where humidity and leaf wetness periods are prolonged; adjust fungicide timing to shorter dry breaks.
Northeast (Mid-Atlantic to New England)
Last 24 hours
- Bands of light to moderate showers with a passing wave; blustery in exposed areas with cooler air filtering in.
- Localized ponding in poor drainage spots where showers trained.
Next 7 days
- Days 1–3: Lingering showers, then a trend toward drier, cooler conditions. Breezy at times along coastal and higher-elevation corridors.
- Days 4–7: Mostly dry with seasonable cool nights and milder afternoons; valley fog likely on calm mornings.
- Ag impacts: Orchard operations and vegetable harvest gain steadier windows later in the period. Consider frost protection in cold hollows if skies clear and winds decouple overnight.
Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Northern Idaho)
Last 24 hours
- Onshore flow produced light to locally moderate rain west of the Cascades; mountain showers and high-elevation snow flurries in the northern ranges. Drier east of the Cascades with cool mornings.
Next 7 days
- Days 1–3: Another weak system brings periodic light rain to coastal and Cascade zones; interior basins see limited precipitation and increasing sun breaks.
- Days 4–7: Drying trend expands with seasonable temperatures; chilly nights persist in interior valleys.
- Ag impacts: Soil moisture recharge improves west side; hop, orchard, and vineyard operations east side benefit from longer dry intervals. Watch for morning inversions affecting air drainage in frost-prone sites.
California (Central Valley, Coastal zones, Southern California interior)
Last 24 hours
- Predominantly dry. Coastal stratus and morning fog along the immediate coast; sunny, mild to warm afternoons inland.
Next 7 days
- Days 1–3: Continued dry across most areas. Morning low clouds along the coast; warm, very dry afternoons inland elevate fire-weather concerns where fuels are cured.
- Days 4–7: Little change; occasional offshore breezes possible in Southern California, which may lower humidity and increase fire danger if they develop.
- Ag impacts: Excellent harvest weather for nuts, grapes, and processing tomatoes; monitor dehydration risk for late-season specialty crops and implement dust control near orchards during windy afternoons.
Southwest and Four Corners (Arizona, New Mexico, Southern Utah, Southern Colorado)
Last 24 hours
- Mostly dry with abundant sun; breezy corridors developed in typical afternoon wind channels. High terrain stayed cool; desert valleys remained warm.
Next 7 days
- Days 1–3: Dry and warm to locally hot at lower elevations; isolated high-elevation showers or a brief storm possible near the Continental Divide.
- Days 4–7: Continued dry bias with periodic breeziness. Nights trend cooler in high valleys.
- Ag impacts: High evapotranspiration persists in low deserts; irrigation demand remains elevated. Blowing dust episodes possible on plowed ground and along open range during afternoon wind peaks.
Central and Southern Rockies/High Terrain (Colorado, Wyoming, Montana high country, Utah mountains)
Last 24 hours
- Scattered mountain showers and a few high-elevation snowflakes; valleys saw mostly dry, cool conditions with notable morning chill.
Next 7 days
- Days 1–3: Passing disturbances spark additional mountain showers; snow confined to the highest peaks where colder pockets linger.
- Days 4–7: Cooler, drier trend with clear nights; frost is common in high valleys when winds ease.
- Ag impacts: Limited pasture regrowth potential; livestock water and mineral access should be monitored during windy, dry spells. Protect late-season produce in high valleys against frost.
Key Cross-Commodity Considerations
- Harvest windows: Central and western belts see multiple favorable windows between quick-hitting showers; the Mid-South and Southeast contend with more frequent interruptions early, improving later.
- Frost risk: Patchy frost is plausible in northern tier lows and high valleys on the clearest, calmest nights late in the period; sensitive late-maturing crops should be prioritized.
- Wind: Frontal passages bring gusty periods that can stress lodged crops and complicate herbicide/fungicide timing; look for mid-morning to midday lulls in post-frontal regimes.
- Fire weather: Elevated across the Southern/Central High Plains, interior California, and parts of the Southwest during warm, dry afternoons with gusts. Maintain defensible space around equipment and schedule operations to avoid peak winds.
- Disease pressure: Persistently humid zones in the Southeast/Delta favor foliar diseases; drier, cooler spells in the Corn Belt reduce pressure but watch for late-season stalk quality issues.
- Livestock: Swingy day–night temperatures and low humidity can increase dehydration risk; ensure reliable water and shade during warm, windy afternoons and windbreaks for cooler nights.
Operational Planning Timeline
- Next 48 hours: Be opportunistic—short, good-quality field windows are common behind each frontal passage, especially midday to afternoon.
- Days 3–5: Northern and central belts trend drier and cooler with better harvest continuity; monitor frost signals in known cold spots.
- Days 5–7: Southeast coasts maintain periodic showers; West largely dry outside the far Northwest. Plains remain breezy at times with continued fire vigilance.
What to Watch
- Any stronger cold front carving into the north-central U.S. that could widen frost coverage.
- Coastal disturbances in the Gulf/Atlantic that could enhance rainfall bands in the Southeast/Delta.
- Shortwave timing over the Great Lakes that may concentrate rain bands and briefly slow harvest.
- Offshore wind episodes in California that increase fire weather concerns and may cause intermittent power safety shutoffs in sensitive corridors.