Overview

Over the last 24 hours, a broad early-autumn pattern influenced key U.S. agricultural regions: a strong Canadian air mass pressed into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest with the season’s most widespread chill to date; a slow-moving frontal boundary focused bands of rain and scattered thunderstorms from the Southern Plains through the Mid-South and lower Ohio Valley; the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies saw periodic light rain and mountain snow showers under a cool, showery regime; and the Southwest and California Central Valley remained predominantly dry with large day–night temperature swings. The Southeast stayed warm and mostly dry outside of coastal showers, while Florida experienced sea-breeze-driven downpours. Harvest windows varied sharply by region: generally favorable in the West and interior Southeast, more constrained by dampness from the Mid-Mississippi Valley to the Tennessee Valley, and interrupted by frost concerns in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.

Regional conditions in the last 24 hours

• Northern Plains and Upper Midwest (Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Iowa, Montana wheat belt): A continental high delivered the coolest readings since spring, with widespread lows in the 30s F across the Dakotas into Minnesota and Wisconsin, and pockets of frost/freezes in interior North Dakota, northern Minnesota, and high valleys of Montana. Afternoon highs were mainly in the 40s to upper 50s F with brisk north to northwest winds. Skies were generally fair, though lake-effect clouds and sprinkles brushed northern Wisconsin and the U.P. of Michigan. Field drying improved where winds and sun aligned, but early-day frost delayed start times for harvest in colder locales.
• Corn Belt and Ohio Valley (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri): A passing cold front brought scattered showers from eastern Missouri through Illinois into Indiana and Kentucky, with locally moderate rainfall and embedded thunderstorms in southern portions. Northern and western Corn Belt areas were drier and cooler behind the front. Winds trended gusty from the northwest in the frontal wake, aiding drying by afternoon in western zones. Temperatures fell notably compared to earlier this week, with highs mostly 50s to mid-60s F north, 60s to near 70 F south.
• Central and Southern Plains (Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas Panhandle): The front settled southeast, focusing bands of showers and a few thunderstorms from central Kansas into eastern Oklahoma and north Texas. Rainfall was variable—light to moderate for most, heavier in storm corridors. Western Kansas and the High Plains stayed mainly dry, breezy, and cooler. Lows dipped into the 30s/40s F across the High Plains with patchy frost in isolated high valleys; highs ranged from 50s/60s north to 70s south.
• Delta and Mid-South (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, western Tennessee): Moisture pooling along the boundary produced scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms, especially in Arkansas and northern Mississippi, interrupting fieldwork at times. Temperatures were seasonable to warm, with muggy conditions persisting ahead of the front.
• Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, Carolinas, Virginia): Mostly dry outside of isolated showers near the Appalachians and coastal zones. Warm afternoons (upper 70s to mid-80s F) with moderate humidity. Good harvest windows and hay curing in many areas continued, though morning dew lingered where winds were light.
• Florida: Typical peninsula sea-breeze convection, with localized heavy downpours mainly along the Gulf Coast and interior corridors. High humidity and highs in the 80s F to near 90 F. Short, sharp rain bursts caused spotty field delays.
• Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho): Cool, showery pattern with light rain in western valleys and snow showers at higher Cascades and Northern Rockies elevations. Breezy at times. Valley temps largely in the 50s/60s F. Intermittent precipitation slowed some field operations but aided late-season soil moisture.
• California (Central Valley and specialty crops): Predominantly dry with large diurnal ranges. Coastal low clouds early, sunny afternoons inland. Highs varied from upper 70s to 80s F in the Valley, cooler near the coast. Excellent harvest conditions prevailed with elevated wildfire dryness in foothills mitigated by cool nights.
• Southwest and Four Corners (Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas): Mostly dry under clear skies. Highs varied from 70s to 80s F at lower elevations with cool nights (40s/50s F in valleys). No significant weather disruptions reported.
• Pacific and Northern Rockies High Country: Periodic light snow showers above pass level, creating brief travel impacts over higher routes but limited ag impacts aside from rangeland chill and livestock cold stress at elevation.

Key agricultural impacts from the past day

• Harvest and fieldwork: Good progress in California, the Southwest, and much of the Southeast; intermittent delays from showers in the Mid-South and lower Ohio Valley; wind-assisted drying benefited parts of the western Corn Belt late in the day; scattered frost in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest slowed early starts but improved grain dry-down where sunny.
• Frost and cold: Patchy to locally widespread frost/freezes across interior Northern Plains and northern Upper Midwest valleys. Tender vegetable plots and late-maturing soybeans in frost pockets were at risk; established corn generally more resilient but susceptible where immature.
• Moisture and soil conditions: Light to moderate rain bands from the Southern Plains to the Mid-South provided incremental top-up for winter wheat planting zones but created localized muddy fields. The Northwest’s light precipitation aided fall soil recharge.
• Livestock: Cooler, breezy conditions increased energy demand in the Northern Plains. No widespread heat stress elsewhere; humidity in the Southeast and Florida remained elevated.

Seven-day forecast by region

Confidence is moderate to high for a progressive pattern: a cool high-pressure dome settles eastward through the weekend, while a new Pacific disturbance organizes and tracks across the West into the central U.S. during the early-to-midweek period. Expect a window of cool, mainly dry weather north and east, followed by expanding precipitation from the West to the Plains/Mississippi Valley midweek. Temperature swings will be pronounced, with the coldest anomalies early in the period across the Northern Tier and a modest warm-up ahead of the next system.

• Northern Plains and Upper Midwest:
  • Temperatures: Chilly through the weekend with additional frost risk in interior North Dakota, northern Minnesota, and northern Wisconsin early in the period, then moderating by days 4–6. Highs generally 40s–50s F early, trending 50s–60s F mid-to-late period.
  • Precipitation: Mostly dry through about day 3. Increasing chances days 4–6 as a Plains low develops; light to moderate rain possible, with a rain/snow mix confined to the far north or high terrain if any cold air lingers. Windy conditions likely with frontal passage.
  • Ag implications: Favorable harvest window early with cold mornings; watch for renewed field interruptions midweek with the next system. Consider livestock cold-weather provisions early; resume normal operations as temps moderate.
• Corn Belt and Ohio Valley:
  • Temperatures: Cool start (highs 50s–60s F) with a gradual warm-up into the 60s–low 70s F by days 4–7. Patchy frost risk early in northern interior pockets where skies clear and winds decouple.
  • Precipitation: Generally dry for 2–3 days, then increasing rain chances from west to east days 4–7 as the central U.S. storm system advances. Totals look light to moderate, heaviest west of the Mississippi and along the track of the low.
  • Ag implications: A solid drying/harvest window through the weekend. Plan for a pause or slower progress mid-to-late week as showers return. Good timing for winter wheat seeding in the western Corn Belt ahead of midweek moisture.
• Central and Southern Plains:
  • Temperatures: Seasonal to cool early, warming into the 70s–80s F in the southern tier by midweek ahead of the next front. Cool nights persist on the High Plains.
  • Precipitation: Scattered showers linger early in Oklahoma/north Texas, then a broader swath of showers and thunderstorms is likely days 4–6 as a lee cyclone organizes. Locally heavy totals possible, especially from the eastern Texas Panhandle/Oklahoma into Kansas.
  • Ag implications: Useful moisture for emerging winter wheat but potential for fieldwork delays and localized flooding in heavier cells. Window for herbicide/burndown applications early; monitor wind for drift and plan around midweek storms.
• Delta and Mid-South:
  • Temperatures: Warm, somewhat humid through midweek (highs upper 70s to mid-80s F), trending slightly cooler after frontal passage late period.
  • Precipitation: Intermittent showers early tapering, then a renewed round of showers and thunderstorms days 5–7. Some storms could produce heavy rain bands.
  • Ag implications: Harvest windows between systems; anticipate renewed field delays late period. Beneficial moisture for small grains establishment where planted.
• Southeast:
  • Temperatures: Seasonably warm with highs 70s–80s F; slight cooling late as a front approaches. Muggy at times near the Gulf/Atlantic coasts.
  • Precipitation: Mostly dry inland through mid-period; coastal showers continue. Increasing rain chances days 5–7, especially Appalachians and interior Southeast, as the front and moisture plume advance.
  • Ag implications: Continued good harvesting and hay curing early; schedule sensitive operations before late-period showers expand.
• Florida:
  • Temperatures: Warm and humid, highs 80s to near 90 F throughout the period.
  • Precipitation: Daily sea-breeze showers and thunderstorms, with coverage increasing late in the week as deeper moisture arrives ahead of the front.
  • Ag implications: Brief, localized field disruptions; maintain irrigation scheduling but account for late-day downpours and lightning risk.
• Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies:
  • Temperatures: Cool to seasonable. Highs 50s–60s F in lowlands, colder at elevation.
  • Precipitation: Additional waves bring periodic light to moderate rain and mountain snow, mainly days 1–4, then a relative break late.
  • Ag implications: On-and-off field delays west of the Cascades; beneficial moisture for fall-planted grains and pastures; monitor snow levels for livestock and transport over higher passes.
• California (Central Valley and coastal ranges):
  • Temperatures: Stable, seasonable-to-warm afternoons with cool nights. Highs mostly upper 70s to 80s F in the Valley.
  • Precipitation: Predominantly dry through the period.
  • Ag implications: Excellent, continuous harvest window; low disease pressure in dry, breezy afternoons. Maintain dust control and wildfire awareness in foothills.
• Southwest and Four Corners:
  • Temperatures: Seasonable to warm days, cool nights with large diurnal swings.
  • Precipitation: Largely dry; slight shower chances may brush northern New Mexico and the Colorado high country as the next trough approaches midweek.
  • Ag implications: Favorable for harvest and fieldwork; continue efficient irrigation scheduling given low humidity and high evapotranspiration.

Hazards and notable signals to monitor

• Frost/Freeze: Elevated risk early in the 7-day period across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, particularly low-lying and interior zones under clear skies. Protect sensitive specialty crops and recently emerged cover crops as needed.
• Heavy rain/severe potential: As the next central U.S. storm organizes, watch for corridors of heavy rain and a few strong thunderstorms from the central/southern Plains into the Mid-Mississippi Valley during days 4–6, shifting east toward the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys late period. Localized flooding and short-term field saturation possible.
• Wind: Breezy/gusty conditions accompanying fronts could impact spraying windows and cause lodging risk in isolated fields where soils soften.
• Mountain snow: Additional light-to-moderate accumulations possible at higher elevations of the Cascades and Northern Rockies in the early period, with travel implications over high passes.

Fieldwork planning guidance

• Maximize harvest and tillage in the West, California, the interior Southeast, and much of the Corn Belt through the weekend’s dry window.
• In the Plains and Mid-South, target early-week operations ahead of expanding showers and storms mid-period; consider soil trafficability and compaction risks where heavier rain is forecast.
• In frost-prone Northern Plains/Upper Midwest locales, prepare frost mitigation for vulnerable specialty crops and monitor morning lows; resume full operations as temperatures rebound midweek.
• Coordinate spray applications around wind and humidity: early period favors lighter winds north; midweek winds increase near the developing Plains system.

Note: Localized conditions can vary substantially from regional summaries. For field-specific decisions, consult your nearest National Weather Service office and local extension advisories.