Growers across the United States are moving through a pivotal stretch of mid-November weather. Short, dry windows are opening in some regions for late-season harvest and fieldwork, while periodic storm systems continue to bring bouts of moisture, wind, and early-season chill elsewhere. Conditions vary sharply by region, and localized terrain and proximity to large water bodies (Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, Atlantic) are creating meaningful microclimates.

Note: This report provides a national, agriculture-focused overview. Always consult local National Weather Service forecasts and your state Extension or Mesonet for precise, field-level decisions.

Regional roundup: recent 24-hour conditions and field impacts

Over the past day, conditions across key production belts ranged from dry, workable fields to pockets of damp soils and early-season cold. The following summaries highlight the types of conditions many producers have been working around; local variations may be significant.

Pacific Northwest (PNW) and Northern Rockies

• Moist onshore flow at times favors coastal and windward slopes with periodic light to moderate precipitation; rain-shadowed valleys often see lighter amounts.
• Higher elevations contend with mixed precipitation or wet snow; valley floors trend cool, with chilly mornings.
• Field impact: intermittent delays for planting and field prep west of the Cascades; generally brief windows between showers east of the mountains.

California Central Valley and adjacent coastal ranges

• Central and southern valleys frequently drier than the far north; patchy overnight fog possible where skies cleared and winds eased.
• Field impact: good progress windows in drier zones; damp ground or light showers occasionally slow operations in the north.

Southwest and Four Corners

• Predominantly dry in valleys with large day–night temperature swings; colder mountain locales may see frosty mornings.
• Field impact: favorable for fieldwork and livestock, with cold dawns in high terrain.

Northern Plains (MT, ND, SD, northern NE, MN)

• Seasonally cold air is increasingly common; where clouds and light precip brushed through, damp or crusted surfaces are possible.
• Field impact: short, workable windows where winds dry surfaces; chilly starts complicate equipment starts and livestock water management.

Central and Southern Plains (KS, OK, TX Panhandle and Rolling Plains)

• Variable: breezy stretches can accelerate drying; moisture is spotty with frontal passages.
• Field impact: week-opening windows for small grains and late harvest in drier corridors; localized mud risk where showers were more persistent.

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

• Mix of dry intervals and light precipitation bands; cooler air increasing frost potential in rural low spots.
• Field impact: patchwork progress—good where dry spells aligned; slowdowns where drizzle or light rain lingered. Leaf wetness periods elevate late foliar disease risk in small grains.

Delta and Lower Mississippi Valley

• Intermittent showers possible with passing boundaries; otherwise seasonable, humid periods with dew/fog at night.
• Field impact: harvest pacing improves on days with sun and breeze; rutted fields remain vulnerable after any heavier shower clusters.

Southeast (Gulf states through Carolinas)

• Mostly light, fast-moving showers or coastal activity; inland areas often see dry breaks with mild afternoons and cool nights.
• Field impact: many areas workable; brief wetting rains can slow cotton and specialty crop progress.

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

• Cooler air with pockets of drizzle/showers; lake-effect bands downwind of the Great Lakes may create localized wet or wintry spells.
• Field impact: uneven soil conditions; sheltered valleys prone to frost. Livestock wind chill considerations on blustery days.

Intermountain West and High Plains

• Dry to partly cloudy in many valleys; mountain snow showers where disturbances clip the region.
• Field impact: generally favorable in valleys with cold mornings; rangeland water availability steady where recent precipitation was limited.

Seven-day agriculture-focused forecast

Timing and totals vary locally. Use this as a planning guide, then align with your county-level forecast.

Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies

• Days 1–3: Repeated waves bring periodic rain west of the Cascades and to coastal ranges; snow in higher Cascades and Northern Rockies. Short breaks inland.
• Days 4–7: Continued unsettled, with another frontal push late in the period. Precipitation potential moderate to locally heavy along windward slopes.
• Fieldwork windows: brief, mainly between systems inland; limited west of the Cascades. Plan around muddy access and cool soils.
• Risks: mountain travel impacts, soil compaction risk if worked wet, nutrient leaching in high-rain zones.

California (North to South)

• Days 1–3: Northern third more likely to see light to moderate rain, especially near the coast and northern Sierra foothills; central/southern valleys trend drier with morning fog risk.
• Days 4–7: A weak-to-moderate system may brush the north again; central and southern areas see limited rain chances.
• Fieldwork windows: generally good in the Central Valley outside the far north; monitor for dense fog reducing working hours.
• Risks: low visibility in fog, slippery orchard floors after any showers, cool mornings increasing inversion conditions for spray applications.

Southwest and Four Corners

• Days 1–7: Predominantly dry. Cool nights and mild afternoons; colder high country.
• Fieldwork windows: favorable all week in lowlands.
• Risks: frost in high valleys; low humidity and breeze can increase evapotranspiration and dry topsoil.

Northern Plains

• Days 1–3: Chilly with periodic light snow/rain chances mainly with weak disturbances; breezy intervals.
• Days 4–7: Reinforcing cool shots; light precipitation episodes possible, greatest near the Canadian border and the eastern Dakotas/MN.
• Fieldwork windows: sporadic, hinging on wind/dry air. Expect frozen dawn surfaces in many locations.
• Risks: freeze/frost common; livestock cold stress during wind events; equipment cold-start issues.

Central and Southern Plains

• Days 1–3: Fronts bring shifting winds; scattered light showers possible, greatest east. Many areas stay dry with cooler-than-recent mornings.
• Days 4–7: Another system may trigger broader showers/storms east of the High Plains; western zones likely remain drier.
• Fieldwork windows: decent stretches west and central where rain is limited; tighter windows in the east if showers organize.
• Risks: wind-driven topsoil loss on bare fields; emerging winter wheat sensitivity to freeze where stands are shallow-rooted.

Midwest/Corn Belt

• Days 1–3: Cool, with areas of light rain/drizzle; lake-effect rain/snow downwind of the Great Lakes. Longer dry periods west of the Mississippi.
• Days 4–7: Another trough later in the period increases precipitation chances, especially central/east; temperatures stay seasonably cool.
• Fieldwork windows: best early and mid-period west; more limited in the eastern Corn Belt during wetter spells.
• Risks: muddy end-rows where rains repeat, stalk integrity concerns if harvest delays persist, frost on successive clear nights.

Delta and Lower Mississippi Valley

• Days 1–3: Intermittent showers, most frequent north and east; warmest afternoons suppressed by cloud cover.
• Days 4–7: Additional rain chances with late-week system; dry breaks between waves.
• Fieldwork windows: short, opportunistic; plan logistics to capitalize on 24–36 hour dry stretches.
• Risks: rutting and compaction if trafficking wet soils; post-rain disease pressure in winter grains and cover crops.

Southeast

• Days 1–3: Mostly light, scattered showers; many inland areas remain largely dry with cool mornings.
• Days 4–7: Slight uptick in rain coverage late week, especially Carolinas and Georgia; Gulf Coast may see intervals of showers.
• Fieldwork windows: generally favorable early in the week; tighter windows later where showers become more numerous.
• Risks: brief heavy downpours in any slow-moving shower; fog reducing early-day field access.

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

• Days 1–3: Cool with occasional light rain; lake-effect snow/rain bands for favored belts.
• Days 4–7: Additional weak systems maintain periodic precipitation; elevation-dependent wet snow possible inland.
• Fieldwork windows: limited in lake-effect corridors; better south of the lakes and in coastal plains during breaks.
• Risks: cold soil temps slowing germination; slippery conditions on pasture and orchard sod.

Intermountain West and High Plains

• Days 1–3: Mostly dry in valleys with occasional mountain snow showers; chilly nights.
• Days 4–7: A passing disturbance may bring light mountain snow and breezy, cooler conditions farther east onto the High Plains.
• Fieldwork windows: favorable in valleys; plan around wind for spraying and soil conservation.
• Risks: freeze on successive clear nights; wind erosion on open fields.

Cross-commodity considerations for the week ahead

• Harvest and post-harvest: West and central Corn Belt and portions of the Plains see the best multi-day windows; eastern Corn Belt and Delta need opportunistic scheduling between showers.
• Winter wheat: Monitor freeze risk on recently emerged stands in the Plains and Midwest; avoid traffic on saturated fields to protect crowns and tillers.
• Tree and vine crops: Expect foggy mornings in California’s Central Valley; allow for drying time before equipment entry to prevent compaction and trunk disease spread.
• Livestock: Wind-chill management in Northern Plains and Upper Midwest midweek; ensure unfrozen water access during cold mornings.
• Soil conservation: Prepare wind breaks or residue cover where breezy, dry spells coincide with bare soils in the Plains and Intermountain West.
• Disease and pests: Leaf wetness episodes in the Delta/Southeast and eastern Midwest can support fall foliar diseases; plan fungicide timing around brief drying windows and avoid inversion conditions.

Actionable planning checklist

• Schedule field operations in the Plains and western Corn Belt early to midweek; pivot eastward during later, shorter breaks as systems move through.
• Stage grain hauling and drying capacity ahead of late-week precipitation chances in the eastern Corn Belt and Delta.
• In frost-prone valleys and low spots, protect sensitive vegetable and specialty crops; prepare for repeated cold mornings.
• Confirm wind thresholds and nozzle choices for pesticide applications; anticipate gusty intervals in the Plains and Rockies.
• Inspect drainage and headlands in regions expecting repeated light rains to prevent compaction and ruts.

For field-level decisions, pair this outlook with your local National Weather Service forecast and on-farm sensors.