Note to readers: Conditions vary widely across microclimates. This regional agricultural weather briefing provides a broad-scale recap and outlook; consult local National Weather Service forecasts and alerts for exact timing and amounts in your area.

National Overview

Early November typically ushers in fast-moving frontal systems across the northern tier, intermittent Gulf and Atlantic moisture feed to the East and South, and increasingly active Pacific storm tracks. For agriculture, the season’s priorities split between finishing harvest in the Midwest and Northern Plains, establishing winter wheat in the Plains, managing late-season fieldwork in the Delta and Southeast, and navigating wet windows in the Pacific Northwest.

Last 24 Hours: What Mattered for Fields and Livestock

Over the past day, most U.S. farming regions experienced typical early-November variability. Where showers developed, they produced brief fieldwork interruptions, while a wide day–night temperature range continued in drier western and southern zones. Breezy periods accompanied frontal passages in parts of the Plains and Midwest, and higher terrain across the West saw early-season snowfall in favored ranges. Key regional impacts:

Pacific Northwest (WA/OR lowlands, Idaho valleys)

  • Periodic light to moderate rain in coastal and valley locations where onshore flow was strongest; higher-elevation snow in the Cascades and northern Rockies where temperatures supported it.
  • Field impacts: softening topsoils and short harvest windows for late root crops and seed fields; erosion risk on sloped ground under heavier showers.
  • Livestock: wind-driven chill near exposed ridgetops; shelter beneficial for young stock.

California (Central Valley, Central Coast)

  • Predominantly dry; localized overnight and early morning tule fog pockets in portions of the Central Valley.
  • Field impacts: favorable machinery access; caution with fog-related visibility during early-day logistics.

Desert Southwest (AZ/NM low deserts)

  • Mostly dry with large diurnal temperature swings.
  • Field impacts: excellent vegetable and specialty crop harvest windows; irrigation needs modest during cooler nights.

Northern Rockies and High Plains (MT/WY/Western Dakotas)

  • Scattered light rain/snow showers occurred in favored upslope zones; breezy at times.
  • Field impacts: brief mud formation where showers fell; light snow mainly a rangeland and transport consideration.

Central & Northern Plains (KS/NE/SD/ND winter wheat belt)

  • Front-driven clouds and pockets of light precipitation in some corridors; notable temperature contrasts across fronts.
  • Field impacts: short delays where showers fell; otherwise seasonable progress on wheat establishment.

Midwest/Corn Belt (MN/IA/MO/IL/WI/IN/OH)

  • Frontal passages brought scattered showers to some areas and gusty winds; cooler air filtering into the Upper Midwest.
  • Field impacts: intermittent harvest pauses; post-front drying aided soybean and corn harvest where rainfall was light.

Delta & Midsouth (AR/LA/MS/TN)

  • Patchy showers along frontal boundaries in spots; otherwise variable cloud cover and mild conditions.
  • Field impacts: short-lived leaf wetness periods for late soy; overall mixed but usable fieldwork windows.

Southeast (AL/GA/FL/Carolinas)

  • Coastal showers in places with sea-breeze or weak onshore flow influence; inland areas largely dry for stretches.
  • Field impacts: good afternoon drying; morning humidity and dew increased disease-management needs for specialty crops.

Northeast (PA/NY/New England)

  • Seasonally cool with spotty light rain in places; higher terrain chilly with localized mixed precip.
  • Field impacts: limited late-season fieldwork at higher elevations; lowland windows remained for cover-crop and residue management.

Seven-Day Forecast and Agricultural Implications

National Pattern

  • Pacific Storm Track: Multiple weak to moderate systems crossing the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies. Expect recurrent coastal/valley rain and mountain snow, with the wettest conditions favoring the Olympic Peninsula, Washington/oregon Cascades, and northern Idaho/western Montana ranges.
  • Central U.S. Frontal Waves: Two main frontal passages likely to sweep the Plains into the Midwest over the coming week, each bringing a stripe of light to locally moderate precipitation and a turn to cooler air behind the front.
  • South and East: Gulf moisture occasionally connects with fronts, producing scattered showers from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Southeast and up the Appalachians, with a drier interlude between systems.
  • Temperatures: Near to below-normal anomalies favored across the northern tier behind fronts; closer to or slightly above normal in the southern tier ahead of fronts, stepping cooler after frontal passage.
  • Wind: Breezy to locally windy along and behind fronts in the Plains and Midwest; gusty coastal winds at times in the Pacific Northwest.

Day-by-Day Timeline (National-Scale)

  • Days 1–2: Pacific system brings rain to the Northwest and early-season mountain snow; a front progresses across the Northern Plains into the Upper Midwest with scattered showers and cooler air behind.
  • Days 3–4: Brief quieter interlude in the central U.S. for drying; continued Pacific moisture into the Northwest. Showers expand into the Great Lakes and Appalachians as the first system reaches the East.
  • Days 5–7: Another Pacific wave emerges onto the Plains, reintroducing showers from the central/northern Plains into portions of the Midwest and Great Lakes. The Southeast sees periodic coastal/inland showers, with warmest readings ahead of any front, then seasonal cooling.

Region-by-Region Outlook

Pacific Northwest

  • Precipitation: Multiple rounds of rain; wettest along windward slopes and coastal zones. Cascades and Blue Mountains see accumulating snow at higher elevations.
  • Temperatures: Cool; snow levels fluctuating with each wave.
  • Ag impacts: Frequent fieldwork interruptions; watch for ponding in heavy soils and rill erosion on slopes. Livestock require windbreaks and dry footing. Post-harvest nutrient applications best timed between waves.

California (Central/Northern Valley, Central Coast)

  • Precipitation: Mostly dry in the Central Valley and Central Coast; far northern CA may see light precip brushing the area late period.
  • Temperatures: Seasonable days, cool nights; periodic dense morning fog in the Valley.
  • Ag impacts: Ample fieldwork windows for orchards and vegetable ground prep; fog complicates early trucking. Air stagnation pockets possible during calm nights.

Southwest Deserts (AZ/NM low deserts, Imperial/Yuma)

  • Precipitation: Minimal.
  • Temperatures: Mild afternoons, cool nights; large diurnal swings.
  • Ag impacts: Consistently favorable harvest windows for leafy greens and vegetables; monitor frost-prone pockets in irrigated low spots late at night.

Northern Rockies & High Plains

  • Precipitation: Intermittent light snow/rain, with better snow chances in higher terrain; brief accumulations possible on colder nights.
  • Temperatures: Generally below seasonal averages, with notable wind chills during frontal passages.
  • Ag impacts: Rangeland conditions turn slick where snow melts by afternoon; livestock cold stress peaks during windy, subfreezing mornings. Limited field access on muddy intervals.

Central & Northern Plains (Winter Wheat Belt)

  • Precipitation: One to two opportunities for light to locally moderate moisture, especially Nebraska, Kansas, and the Dakotas with frontal waves.
  • Temperatures: Variable—milder ahead of fronts, trending cooler behind; multiple frost/freezes likely in the northern tier and interior valleys.
  • Ag impacts: Moisture supports wheat emergence and early tillering where soils are dry, but short-lived mud may delay field operations. Livestock wind stress behind fronts; stock water checks where tanks ice overnight.

Midwest/Corn Belt

  • Precipitation: Two rounds of scattered showers moving west-to-east; locally enhanced bands over the Great Lakes with lake-effect in cooler post-frontal air.
  • Temperatures: Cooler than normal north; near normal central; near to slightly above normal south ahead of fronts, then cooler.
  • Ag impacts: 1–2 interruption days for corn/soy harvest; otherwise workable stretches with brisk drying in post-front air. Keep grain aeration fans ready for temperature/humidity swings.

Delta & Midsouth

  • Precipitation: Periodic showers tied to passing fronts; heaviest bands most likely aligned northwest–southeast but spotty in coverage between systems.
  • Temperatures: Mild to warm ahead of fronts; cooler, drier air filtering in afterward.
  • Ag impacts: Mixed fieldwork windows. Cotton and late soy harvest advance during dry breaks; leaf wetness and boll rot risks increase on showery days.

Southeast

  • Precipitation: Scattered showers, most frequent near the Gulf and Atlantic coasts and along frontal boundaries; inland variability high.
  • Temperatures: Warmer than normal ahead of fronts, trending seasonal later.
  • Ag impacts: Good afternoon drying between showers supports peanut curing and row-crop harvest; disease pressure elevated for specialty crops where leaf wetness is frequent. Fog/low ceilings may affect morning logistics.

Northeast

  • Precipitation: Showery periods with the first front, then additional chances late; higher terrain could mix with wet snow at night.
  • Temperatures: Cool; multiple frosts/freezes inland and in sheltered valleys.
  • Ag impacts: End-of-season wrap-up continues; winery/vineyard and orchard sanitation work favored during dry intervals. Livestock waterers need freeze protection overnight.

Key Agricultural Risks to Monitor This Week

  • Field Access: Repeated rain in the Pacific Northwest and intermittent showers in the Midwest may create short-lived mud and ruts. Schedule heavy passes on better-drained fields soon after frontal drying.
  • Frost/Freeze: Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, interior Northeast likely to see multiple frosts/freezes. Protect late vegetables and ensure livestock watering systems are frost-ready.
  • Wind: Post-frontal gusts on the Plains and Midwest may cause lodging in unharvested corn and increase fire danger in dry grasslands ahead of fronts.
  • Disease/Quality: Leaf wetness in the Delta/Southeast and coastal Carolinas favors foliar disease; rotate fungicide modes where warranted and leverage dry, breezy periods for applications.
  • Rangeland/Livestock: Cold rain/snow mix and wind in the northern tier elevate energy requirements; provide windbreaks and dry bedding, especially for young or thin animals.

Fieldwork Windows at a Glance

  • Best chances: California Central Valley; Desert Southwest; portions of the central/southern Plains between fronts.
  • Mixed opportunities: Midwest/Corn Belt; Delta & Midsouth; Southeast inland areas between showers.
  • Limited windows: Pacific Northwest lowlands (frequent rain); higher terrain of the northern Rockies (periodic snow/mix).

Crop-Specific Notes

  • Winter Wheat (Plains): Favorable establishment if forecast moisture materializes; watch for soil crusting where heavier showers occur and consider light harrowing to aid emergence if necessary.
  • Corn/Soy (Midwest): Prioritize fields with poorer standability ahead of wind events; use post-front low humidity and cooler temps to condition bins and manage condensation.
  • Rice/Cotton/Soy (Delta): Target harvest on days with dew-off by late morning; avoid rutting on marginal days to prevent compaction ahead of spring.
  • Peanuts (Southeast): Balance curing needs with scattered showers; use early-day warmth to reduce pod moisture before digging/combining.
  • Specialty Crops (West/Southeast): Morning fog in CA may slow operations; in the Southeast, schedule fungicide sprays around leaf wetness windows.

For site-specific timing, totals, and advisories, consult your local National Weather Service office or extension weather network before field operations.