U.S. agriculture is transitioning deeper into late autumn, with winter wheat entering dormancy across the Plains, corn and soybean harvest largely wrapped up in the Midwest, and cool-season vegetables, cane, and citrus in focus across the South and West. Over the past 24 hours, a seasonally active pattern has brought mixed precipitation to northern and western production zones, breezy post-frontal drying in the Plains and Midwest, and pockets of fog and light rain in the Southeast. The week ahead favors additional frontal passages and periodic Pacific systems, supporting frequent temperature swings, scattered moisture events, and intermittent fieldwork windows rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of dry weather.

Past 24 Hours: Regional Snapshot

Pacific Northwest (PNW) — Small Grains, Seed, Forage

• Precipitation: Light to locally moderate valley rain with steadier mountain snow typical of late November; soils remain moist to saturated in windward zones.
• Temperatures: Cool; snow levels variable, trending lower over higher terrain overnight.
• Agricultural notes: Moisture continues to support fall grains and pasture while limiting field access on heavier soils; erosion and ponding remain spotty concerns on sloped ground.

California — Central Valley Row Crops, Tree Nuts, Vineyards

• Precipitation: Generally light and patchy in the valley; more frequent showers favored along the north coast and Sierra foothills.
• Temperatures: Cool nights aiding chill-hour accumulation; afternoons seasonably mild where skies cleared.
• Agricultural notes: Good chill progression for orchards; limited wetting in the central and southern valley means irrigation scheduling remains relevant where fall rooting and cover crops are active.

Southwest & Four Corners — Specialty Crops, Rangeland

• Precipitation: Mostly dry to spotty light showers near higher terrain.
• Temperatures: Cool mornings; seasonable afternoons with large diurnal swings.
• Agricultural notes: Dormant orchard prep and grazing continue; frost pockets likely in high valleys.

Northern Plains — Wheat, Cattle

• Precipitation: Scattered light snow or flurries in the cold sector of recent systems; otherwise dry.
• Temperatures: Chilly with subfreezing nights common; wind chills lower behind fronts.
• Agricultural notes: Winter wheat hardening supported; livestock cold stress elevated during breezy, colder periods.

Central & Southern Plains — Winter Wheat, Cattle

• Precipitation: Limited and spotty; locally light showers with frontal passages.
• Temperatures: Wide swings; frosty mornings where skies cleared and winds eased.
• Agricultural notes: Established wheat benefits from cool, moist conditions where prior rains occurred; dryness lingers in parts of the southern High Plains, keeping stand establishment uneven.

Midwest/Corn Belt — Row Crops, Livestock

• Precipitation: Light rain/snow mix in northern tier; brief showers farther south.
• Temperatures: Seasonally cool; freezing nights common in the Upper Midwest.
• Agricultural notes: Mostly post-harvest activities; fields firmed quickly after frontal passage, allowing intermittent fieldwork and manure applications where permitted.

Delta & Mid-South — Row Crops, Winter Wheat

• Precipitation: Spotty light rain and areas of dense morning fog; localized damp soils.
• Temperatures: Mild days, cool nights; limited frost except in interior uplands.
• Agricultural notes: Wheat planting and emergence generally progress where soils drain; fog slowed early-day operations.

Southeast — Vegetables, Citrus, Forage

• Precipitation: Patchy light showers with coastal enhancement; inland largely dry to damp.
• Temperatures: Mild along the Gulf/Atlantic coasts; cooler inland with isolated light frost in colder pockets.
• Agricultural notes: Citrus and winter vegetables benefited from absence of hard freeze; humidity favored foliar disease pressure where showers occurred.

Northeast — Dairy, Specialty Crops

• Precipitation: Light rain/snow showers; localized lake-effect bands downwind of the Great Lakes.
• Temperatures: Cool to cold; wind chills notable near the lakes.
• Agricultural notes: Pasture dormancy increasing; stored feed and energy needs rising with colder spells.

Seven-Day Forecast and Agricultural Implications

Expect a progressive pattern featuring 1–2 frontal passages across the central and eastern U.S. and periodic Pacific impulses in the West. Temperature swings of 10–25°F from one air mass to the next are common this time of year. Precipitation will be most frequent along the Pacific Northwest, the Northern Tier, and portions of the Southeast and Lower Mississippi Valley, with comparatively lighter and more variable totals in the central and southern Plains and interior Southwest.

Temperature Outlook

• Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies: Near to below normal; additional cold shots with mountain snow.
• California: Near normal overall; cool nights supporting chill accumulation in the Central Valley.
• Southwest/Four Corners: Near normal days, chilly nights with frost in high valleys and plateaus.
• Northern Plains/Upper Midwest: Generally below normal, especially nights; periodic single-digit to teens (°F) wind chills during breezy post-frontal periods.
• Central/Southern Plains: Variable; brief warm-ups ahead of fronts, followed by sharp cool-downs and frost potential.
• Midwest/Corn Belt: Near to slightly below normal; freeze risk on clear, calm nights, especially north.
• Delta/Mid-South: Near normal days; pockets of frost during radiational cooling where skies clear.
• Southeast: Near normal to slightly above near coasts; interior nights cool with patchy frost in colder hollows.
• Northeast: Near to below normal; freeze common inland, with lake-effect cold surges.

Precipitation Outlook

• Pacific Northwest: Multiple rounds of rain; orographic enhancement and accumulating mountain snow. Flooding mainly a low to moderate risk in small, flashy basins where back-to-back systems occur.
• California: Mostly light precipitation outside of northern and coastal zones; Sierra snow mainly with colder systems. Central Valley likely sees limited, episodic wetting.
• Southwest/Four Corners: Generally dry; isolated high-terrain showers possible.
• Northern Rockies/High Plains: Intermittent light snow or mixed precipitation; localized travel impacts.
• Central/Southern Plains: Light, hit-or-miss showers with fronts; the Panhandles and west remain on the drier side.
• Midwest/Corn Belt: One or two light to moderate waves; rain south, rain/snow mix north. Heavier lake-effect snow downwind of the Great Lakes after colder pushes.
• Delta/Mid-South: Periodic light to moderate rain events; locally heavy bands possible where Gulf moisture aligns with fronts.
• Southeast: Scattered showers with coastal enhancement; locally heavy near stalled boundaries. Inland coverage variable.
• Northeast: Light to moderate precipitation in passing systems; lake-effect snow belts remain active at times.

Frost/Freeze Risk Windows

• High confidence: Nighttime freezes in the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, interior Northeast.
• Moderate confidence: Radiational freezes following frontal passages in the Central Plains, Midwest transition zone, and interior Mid-South.
• Low to moderate confidence: Patchy frost in interior Southeast valleys and the far southern Plains on the coldest, clearest nights.

Wind and Fire Weather

• Breezy to windy conditions likely behind each front across the Plains and Midwest, favoring rapid surface drying but elevating livestock stress and increasing fire danger in the drier southern High Plains.
• Offshore wind episodes remain possible in Southern California; brief, localized elevated fire weather if humidity drops and fuels are receptive.

Regional Agricultural Impacts and Actions

Winter Wheat (Plains, PNW, Midwest)

• Pros: Cool pattern supports tillering and hardening; PNW moisture benefits establishment and soil recharge.
• Cons: Saturated PNW lowlands may limit equipment access; southern High Plains dryness could keep stands uneven without timely showers.
• Actions: Prioritize topdressing and herbicide timing during brief dry, breezy windows; monitor for wind erosion on bare, dry fields in the southern Plains.

Row Crops and Residue Management (Midwest, Delta, Southeast)

• Midwest: Post-harvest fieldwork windows open between systems; watch soil temperatures for fall nutrient applications and compaction risk if soils are near field capacity.
• Delta/Southeast: Intermittent showers and fog may delay operations; plan around 24–48 hour drying windows after frontal passages.

Tree Nuts, Vineyards, and Citrus (California and Southeast)

• Central Valley: Favorable chill-hour accumulation; limited rainfall means orchard floor moisture may need management for winter cover and dust control.
• Florida and Gulf citrus: No widespread hard freeze signal; maintain canker/greasy spot management where humidity and showers persist.

Livestock and Rangeland

• Northern Tier: Cold, windy spells raise energy needs; provide windbreaks and ensure water access remains unfrozen.
• Southern Plains/Southwest: Generally dry conditions support access but maintain fire breaks where fine fuels are cured.

Fieldwork Windows: Planning Guidance

• Pacific Northwest: Limited lowland windows; expect short breaks between systems. Target lighter-textured fields first.
• California Central Valley: Several workable periods with only brief shower interruptions, especially in central and southern sections.
• Plains: Post-frontal, breezy periods offer quick surface drying; monitor wind for soil loss on tilled ground.
• Midwest: One to two-day windows between light systems; prioritize fields with better drainage to reduce compaction.
• Delta/Southeast: Plan around fog and scattered showers; late-week clearing typically improves access.
• Northeast: Short, cool windows between clipper-type systems; anticipate lake-effect snow impacts downwind of the lakes.

Key Hazards To Watch

• Freeze and Frost: Highest confidence in the Northern Plains/Upper Midwest; moderate risk spreading into the central Plains and interior Mid-South on clear nights.
• Wind: Gusty post-frontal winds across the Plains/Midwest; localized blowing dust possible in the southern High Plains.
• Heavy Rain and Flooding: Low to moderate risk in the Pacific Northwest with back-to-back systems; urban and small stream impacts most likely.
• Snow and Ice: Intermittent light snow across the Northern Tier and mountains; lake-effect snow periodic downwind of the Great Lakes.
• Fire Weather: Periodically elevated in the southern High Plains and parts of Southern California during dry, windy spells.
• Fog: Dense morning fog episodes in the Delta and Southeast may reduce visibility and delay operations.

Operational Takeaways

• Schedule fieldwork in short bursts between systems; expect rapid changes with each frontal passage.
• Use clear, cold nights to track freeze thresholds for sensitive specialty crops in the Southeast and for late-season vegetables in the Southwest and Delta.
• Monitor soil trafficability closely in the PNW and Great Lakes snowbelts; consider alternate routes or lighter equipment where soils remain saturated.
• Plan livestock cold-weather protocols for breezy, cold surges in the Northern Tier.
• In California, continue chill-hour tracking and adjust orchard irrigation to maintain soil moisture for winter cover crops while preventing oversaturation ahead of potential early-season storms.

Note: This regional outlook provides generalized guidance suitable for planning. Conditions vary locally with each passing system; consult your local National Weather Service office or extension service for site-specific forecasts and advisories.