How to read this report: This planning brief synthesizes seasonal climatology and typical mid‑November patterns across the nation’s key agricultural regions. It is not a substitute for site‑specific forecasts or real‑time observations. For decisions tied to exact timing, accumulation, or wind thresholds, consult your local National Weather Service office or trusted local ag‑weather provider.

Weather Across U.S. Agricultural Regions: Last 24 Hours

Mid‑November commonly brings quick‑moving fronts, wide day‑to‑night temperature swings, the return of Pacific moisture to the Northwest, and scattered rainfall along and ahead of fronts in the central and eastern United States. In the past day, growers in many regions typically contend with:

• Cool to cold mornings in the northern tier: Frequent frost or hard freeze episodes in the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and interior Northeast, with sub‑freezing dawn conditions typical for this calendar window.
• On‑and‑off light to moderate Pacific precipitation in the Northwest: Periodic coastal rain and mountain snow are common, with breezy onshore flow affecting fieldwork windows west of the Cascades.
• Mostly dry to spotty showers in the central belt: Between fronts, the Central and Southern Plains often experience dry, breezy conditions favoring late harvest but elevating fire danger in cured rangelands.
• Frontal showers from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Southeast and Mid‑Atlantic: Scattered, fast‑moving rain bands with gusty winds are typical, followed by cooler, drier air.
• Lakes and high terrain effects: In the Great Lakes and Appalachians, post‑frontal cold advection commonly triggers lake‑effect rain/snow and upslope light snow.

Field implications of these typical mid‑November conditions include slower drying rates north of Interstate 80, improving harvest windows in the central Plains between fronts, and intermittent delays in the Delta and Southeast where frontal showers occur.

Seven‑Day Agricultural Weather Outlook

Expect a classic late‑autumn pattern: periodic Pacific systems impacting the West, one or two fronts sweeping the central and eastern U.S., and at least one reinforcing shot of colder air reaching the northern tier. Confidence is higher for the pattern shape than for exact storm timing at any single farm. Plan for variability day‑to‑day and use local forecasts to refine operations.

Pacific Northwest (WA, OR, ID)

• Temperatures: Near to below normal along and east of the Cascades; near normal along the coast. Chilly nights inland.
• Precipitation: Multiple rounds of coastal/valley rain and mountain snow. Heaviest favored on windward slopes. Intervals of dry weather are brief.
• Field impacts: Limited drydown windows west‑side; soil saturation pockets on poorly drained ground. Snowpack accrual above passes; watch for stock transport challenges over higher routes.
• Risks: Gusty frontal winds along the coast and gaps; localized flooding in low‑lying fields if rain bands stall; slick conditions near freeze line transitions.

California (North Coast, Sacramento/San Joaquin Valleys, Central Coast, Southern California)

• Temperatures: Near normal days; cool nights with valley fog/inversion potential, especially in the Central Valley.
• Precipitation: Northern half favored for light to moderate rain with passing Pacific waves; southern areas trend drier with lighter, spottier activity if any.
• Field impacts: Short, usable harvest/fieldwork windows between systems in the north; watch post‑rain equipment access and compaction risk. Fog may limit early‑morning operations.
• Risks: Air quality concerns under inversions; first meaningful wetting rains in some locales can raise erosion risk on recently worked slopes.

Southwest and Desert Agriculture (AZ, NM, far West TX)

• Temperatures: Near to slightly above normal days; large diurnal swings with cold pre‑dawn lows in high valleys.
• Precipitation: Generally light and infrequent; most areas remain dry outside of breezy fronts skirting the Four Corners.
• Field impacts: Favorable for harvest and field work; irrigators maintain schedules with elevated evaporative demand on breezy days.
• Risks: Localized blowing dust with gap winds; freeze pockets in higher valleys on clear nights.

Northern Rockies & High Plains (MT, WY, western Dakotas)

• Temperatures: Below normal shots mixed with brief moderations; repeated freeze/hard freeze events.
• Precipitation: Light snow or snow showers with passing disturbances; higher totals favored along terrain.
• Field impacts: Limited moisture benefit for winter wheat except where bands linger; wind‑driven cold stress periods for livestock.
• Risks: Blowing snow in open country during windy periods; ice glazing after light events and overnight refreeze.

Central & Southern Plains (KS, OK, TX Panhandle, eastern CO/NE)

• Temperatures: Near to slightly below normal north; near normal south. Frequent freezes north; patchy frost central.
• Precipitation: Limited overall. One frontal passage could bring light, fast‑moving rain/snow mix north; lighter amounts south.
• Field impacts: Generally favorable harvest windows with breezy drying; soil moisture recharge remains modest for establishing winter wheat where fall rains have lagged.
• Risks: Elevated grassfire danger on warm, windy afternoons; blowing dust in exposed fields.

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

• Temperatures: A colder push mid‑period and again late is plausible; frequent frosts/freezes. Daytime highs trend cool.
• Precipitation: Light to moderate bands along fronts; some lake‑effect rain/snow east of the Lakes; occasional light snow north.
• Field impacts: Short, workable windows between fronts; drying is slow in the north. Residue and cover crop management benefit from drier interludes.
• Risks: Windy frontal passages; localized slick spots if wet roads refreeze overnight.

Mississippi Delta & Mid‑South (AR, LA, MS, west TN, west KY)

• Temperatures: Near normal to slightly cool behind fronts; patchy frost possible in northern zones late week.
• Precipitation: One or two rounds of showers with frontal waves; cumulative totals variable but sufficient to cause short delays.
• Field impacts: Intermittent harvest setbacks around rain; good drying returns 24–48 hours after frontal passage.
• Risks: Brief, gusty winds along squall lines; minor field ponding in heavier pockets.

Southeast (AL, GA, the Carolinas, FL)

• Temperatures: Near normal; cooler, drier air behind fronts. Florida Peninsula stays warmest with smaller diurnal swings.
• Precipitation: Frontal showers shifting offshore after passage; lingering coastal showers possible. Peninsula Florida holds periodic light showers; interior often dry between fronts.
• Field impacts: Good post‑frontal drying for harvest and field prep; brief delays during rain bands.
• Risks: Early‑morning fog where soils are moist; breezy coastal conditions with choppy marine exposure.

Mid‑Atlantic & Northeast (PA, NJ, NY, New England)

• Temperatures: Near to below normal; recurrent frosts/freezes inland; milder near the coast.
• Precipitation: Showery frontal passages; lake‑effect rain/snow downwind of Lakes Erie/Ontario; light snow in higher terrain.
• Field impacts: Short, cool, workable windows between systems; orchard operations mindful of gusts and wet ground.
• Risks: A coastal low is a periodic mid‑November risk; if one materializes late period, expect wind‑driven rain along the coast and wet snow inland highlands.

Key Hazards to Watch This Week

• Freeze/Hard Freeze: Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, interior Northeast, interior West valleys. Protect late‑planted specialty crops and equipment vulnerable to freeze‑up.
• Heavy Rain Bands (localized): Pacific Northwest windward slopes; Mid‑South/Southeast along fronts. Monitor low‑lying fields for ponding.
• Mountain Snow: Cascades, northern Sierra, Northern Rockies. Plan livestock transport and pass travel around snow timing.
• Wind: Coasts during Pacific fronts; Plains during frontal passages; Appalachians and coastal Northeast with any coastal low development. Secure light infrastructure and cover materials.
• Fire Weather: Central/Southern High Plains during warm, dry, windy afternoons. Avoid hot work in open fields and maintain defensible space.
• Fog/Inversions: Central Valley of California and interior basins of the West; Southeast river bottoms on clear, calm nights following rain.

Fieldwork Windows and Planning Guidance

• Best odds for multi‑hour dry windows: Southern Plains, Southwest deserts, interior Southeast after frontal passages.
• Intermittent, short windows: Pacific Northwest west‑side valleys, Northern Plains/Upper Midwest between clippers and lake‑effect bursts, Mid‑Atlantic/Northeast between fronts.
• Likeliest weather‑related delays: Windward Northwest slopes (rain/mountain snow), Delta and Southeast on frontal days, Great Lakes snow belts with lake‑effect bands.

Plan high‑risk operations (spraying requiring narrow wind thresholds, slope tillage vulnerable to erosion) during the calmer, drier breaks. Use soil moisture and compaction risk as gatekeepers before re‑entry after rain.

Crop and Livestock Considerations

• Winter Wheat Establishment: Limited natural moisture recharge in the central/southern Plains suggests prioritizing residue management for moisture conservation and assessing stand vigor after cold snaps.
• Row Crop Harvest: Central belt windows look workable, but plan for wind losses in standing corn ahead of fronts and slower drying north of I‑80.
• Specialty Crops: California fog/inversions may restrict spray timing; Southeast citrus and vegetables should monitor post‑frontal humidity swings that influence disease pressure.
• Livestock: Prepare for wind‑enhanced cold stress events in the High Plains and Northern Rockies; ensure unfrozen water access and windbreaks. Watch mud management in feedlots following any rain.

Frost, Chill, and Degree‑Day Notes

• Growing Degree Days: Accumulation slows markedly north of roughly 35–40°N; heat unit gains remain modest even in the South under shorter days.
• Chill Accumulation: Fruit and nut orchards in the West and Southeast continue adding chill hours with cool nights; inversions may cause orchard‑level variability—deploy temperature monitors in low spots.
• Freeze Pockets: Expect recurrent sub‑freezing pre‑dawn lows in interior valleys and sheltered hollows across the northern half of the country and high terrain of the West.

Bottom Line for the Next 7 Days

Plan around a couple of fronts east of the Rockies, steady Pacific impulses in the Northwest, and generally drier, more stable conditions across the Southwest and portions of the Southern Plains. Expect frequent frosts/freezes in the north, brief but impactful winds near frontal passages, and short, valuable fieldwork windows between systems. Align time‑sensitive operations with the calmer breaks, and use local forecasts to fine‑tune timing at the field scale.