Note for readers: This briefing synthesizes typical late‑November patterns and regionally relevant agricultural weather considerations across the United States and provides a planning-oriented outlook for the coming week. For precise, county-level details and watches/warnings, consult your local National Weather Service office before making operational decisions.

Nationwide agricultural context

As the growing season transitions to winter across much of the country, overnight frost and freeze risks expand, storm tracks from the Pacific increasingly influence the Northern Tier and Great Lakes, and Gulf moisture periodically feeds rain across the Lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast. Fieldwork windows narrow where soils are wet, while rangeland, livestock, and storage protection become higher priorities with longer nights and colder air masses.

Regional conditions over the last 24 hours: what most growers have been watching

Corn Belt (Upper Midwest and Great Lakes)

  • Cold mornings with scattered frost/freeze, especially in northern and interior areas.
  • Patchy drizzle, flurries, or lake-effect bands near the Great Lakes where winds align with cold air moving over warmer water.
  • Field surfaces variable: firm where well-drained and recently dry; tacky to muddy under recent light rain/snow.

Eastern Corn Belt and Ohio Valley

  • Chilly starts and cool afternoons; occasional light showers or sprinkles where weak disturbances passed.
  • Intermittent breeziness that can aid dry-down between passing clouds/showers.

Northern Plains (MT/ND/SD and northern WY)

  • Frequent subfreezing mornings; localized light snow or freezing fog where moisture lingered.
  • Wind exposure elevating livestock cold stress periods, especially overnight and early morning.

Central and Southern Plains (NE/KS/OK/TX Panhandle)

  • Wide diurnal swings: frosty dawns possible north; milder afternoons south.
  • Light precipitation confined to weak frontal passages; many locations remained dry, supporting late fieldwork but sustaining dryness where deficits persist.

Delta and Mid-South

  • Moisture-laden air at times with patchy fog early; intermittent showers in spots depending on weak Gulf inflow.
  • Harvest and post-harvest operations interrupted mainly by localized wetting, with decent windows between showers.

Southeast (including FL, GA, AL, Carolinas)

  • Mostly seasonable to mild; pockets of morning fog and low clouds near waterways and coastal zones.
  • Isolated coastal showers; interior areas largely dry where fronts were diffuse.

Northeast

  • Chilly with scattered light rain/snow showers, especially higher terrain and downwind of lakes.
  • Gusty periods behind weak fronts, aiding surface drying but increasing cold exposure for outdoor stock.

Pacific Northwest (coastal WA/OR and inland valleys)

  • Typical late‑fall maritime influence: periodic rain along the coast and valleys, mountain snow at higher passes.
  • Soils wetter, with runoff and ponding in low-lying fields where heavier bands set up.

California Central Valley

  • Stable nights favoring valley fog and low stratus; cool mornings and limited daytime mixing where fog persisted.
  • Light precipitation limited; orchard floor and row crop fields largely workable outside of foggy dampness.

Southwest deserts (AZ/NM and adjacent CA/NV)

  • Dry with large temperature swings; coldest pockets in higher valleys at dawn.
  • Irrigation schedules steady; frost prone low spots see localized impacts overnight.

Intermountain West/Rockies

  • Periods of light snow in mountains and colder valleys; clearer breaks produced strong nighttime radiational cooling.
  • Rangeland and livestock exposure management active during breezy, cold spells.

The next 7 days: planning outlook for growers

Expect a classic late‑fall cadence: Pacific disturbances reloading the West and Northern Tier, periodic cold fronts sweeping the Plains to the East, and Gulf-fed showers at times for the Lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast. Use the guidance below to time fieldwork, protect sensitive assets, and plan logistics.

Corn Belt

  • Temperatures: Frequent nights at or below freezing north; near freezing to slightly above south. Daytime highs generally cool with brief milder breaks ahead of fronts.
  • Precipitation: Light to occasionally moderate events every few days, with lake-effect snow/rain downwind of the Great Lakes after colder frontal passages.
  • Fieldwork: Short, opportunistic windows between systems; best windows likely 24–36 hours after frontal passage once winds subside and sun returns.
  • Risks to manage: Residue and stalk integrity during gusty post-frontal periods; grain drying needs increase with higher humidity and shorter daylight.

Northern Plains

  • Temperatures: Predominantly below freezing at night; periodic daytime chill with wind making it feel colder.
  • Precipitation: Light snow or mixed precipitation with passing waves; heavier amounts favored along upslope or where systems tap deeper moisture.
  • Livestock: Elevate windbreak and bedding readiness; watch water supply freeze potential during cold snaps.
  • Transportation: Blowing snow and slick spots possible near events; plan hauling during calmer interludes.

Central and Southern Plains

  • Temperatures: Variable; frost/freeze risk north and in sheltered locales; milder spells ahead of fronts.
  • Precipitation: Generally light and scattered with fronts; better rain chances where Gulf moisture returns, particularly east.
  • Winter wheat: Monitor emergence and tillering; brief cold shots typical—protect poorly established stands if a harder freeze is forecast locally.
  • Drought watch: Western zones remain sensitive; any measurable rainfall offers soil profile benefit but may be spotty.

Delta and Mid-South

  • Temperatures: Seasonable to mild; occasional cool-downs behind fronts.
  • Precipitation: Periodic showers; localized heavier bands possible with better Gulf connection.
  • Fieldwork: Expect staggered disruptions; prioritize operations in the 24–48 hour dry windows between waves.
  • Storage/quality: Elevate aeration and moisture checks for stored grain during humid stretches.

Southeast

  • Temperatures: Mild near the Gulf and Florida; cooler inland behind fronts.
  • Precipitation: Scattered showers, most frequent near the Gulf Coast and Atlantic coastal plain; interior dry periods persist between fronts.
  • Field access: Generally good outside of wet coastal strips; fog may delay early-day operations.

Northeast

  • Temperatures: Cool to cold with subfreezing nights common inland and uplands.
  • Precipitation: Intermittent light rain/snow events; lake-effect bands downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario after colder pushes.
  • Infrastructure: Prepare for freeze–thaw cycles impacting rural roads and barn water systems.

Pacific Northwest

  • Temperatures: Cool; snow levels fluctuating with each Pacific wave, trending lower behind fronts.
  • Precipitation: Repeated rain episodes west of the Cascades; accumulating mountain snow benefiting snowpack but challenging passes.
  • Field conditions: Saturation likely in poorly drained soils; prioritize drainage maintenance and erosion control on slopes.

California Central Valley

  • Temperatures: Cool nights with frequent fog; modest afternoon warming where sun breaks out.
  • Precipitation: Limited outside of any weak systems brushing the northern valley; fog is the main disruptor.
  • Operations: Time harvest and orchard work late morning to afternoon after fog lift; enhance visibility and safety protocols on rural roads.

Southwest deserts

  • Temperatures: Large diurnal swings; localized frost in cold basins at dawn.
  • Precipitation: Minimal for most; watch for stray showers if a cutoff disturbance meanders nearby.
  • Irrigation: Maintain schedules; monitor soil temperatures for specialty crops during clear, calm nights.

Intermountain West/Rockies

  • Temperatures: Cold nights, especially in valleys; daytime highs vary with cloud cover and elevation.
  • Precipitation: Periodic mountain snow; valley light snow or mixed precip with broader trough passages.
  • Rangeland: Provide shelter and supplemental feed during windy, snowy periods; ensure access routes are maintained.

National 7-day cadence to help schedule tasks

  • Early period (Days 1–2): A front typically organizes showers from the Plains into the Midwest and East; cooler, drier air follows with gusty conditions behind the boundary. West sees the leading edge of a Pacific wave, with rain coast/mountains and snow at higher elevations.
  • Mid period (Days 3–4): Brief interlude for fieldwork in the Central/East as high pressure passes; renewed precipitation in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies builds snowpack and maintains wet valley soils.
  • Late period (Days 5–7): Another storm system commonly emerges from the West, spreading clouds and scattered precipitation eastward; lake-effect activity returns to the Great Lakes after the cold push, while the Southeast may see showers depending on Gulf moisture return.

Actionable ag checklists for the week ahead

Frost and freeze management

  • Monitor low-lying fields and orchard floors for radiational frost on clear, calm nights; deploy wind machines or irrigation where standard practice.
  • Protect recently emerged winter wheat and specialty crops in the Central/Southern Plains if a hard freeze is locally forecast.

Fieldwork timing

  • Exploit 24–48 hour breaks behind fronts in the Corn Belt and Ohio Valley; plan drying and hauling when winds ease and sun returns.
  • In the Pacific Northwest, concentrate ground operations during lighter rain intervals; keep contour tillage and cover in place to reduce erosion.

Livestock and rangeland

  • Ensure windbreaks, bedding, and unfrozen water access in the Northern Plains and Rockies; adjust rations during colder, windy stretches.
  • Schedule transport during calmer, milder windows to minimize stress.

Storage and quality

  • Use drier post-frontal air for aeration cycles; monitor grain moisture closely during humid, foggy spells in the Delta/Southeast and Central Valley.
  • Inspect roofs and drainage ahead of Pacific systems in the West and mixed precipitation events in the Northeast.

Risk snapshot by region (next 7 days)

  • Corn Belt: Frost/freeze risk high north, moderate south; precipitation light to moderate in waves; fieldwork windows short to moderate.
  • Northern Plains: Cold stress high; light snow events possible; travel/hauling disruptions episodic.
  • Central/Southern Plains: Variable temperatures with periodic frost; precipitation limited to modest frontal passages; drought monitoring continues west.
  • Delta/Mid-South: Showers at times; humidity management for storage and post-harvest operations.
  • Southeast: Intermittent showers coastal; inland dry windows; morning fog hazards.
  • Northeast: Light mixed precipitation events; lake-effect episodes; freeze–thaw impacts to infrastructure.
  • Pacific Northwest: Repeated rain and mountain snow; saturated soils and high streamflows in sensitive basins.
  • California Central Valley: Frequent fog; limited precipitation; visibility and moisture management in orchards.
  • Southwest deserts: Mostly dry; radiational frost pockets; steady irrigation demand.
  • Intermountain West/Rockies: Mountain snow; valley cold; rangeland exposure management.

For county-specific details, hour-by-hour timing, and any advisories, please reference your local National Weather Service forecast and state extension updates.