Key agricultural takeaways at a glance

• Fieldwork windows are narrowing in northern tiers as soils cool; southern and coastal zones retain limited, short-duration windows between fronts.
• Winter wheat: establishment benefits from gentle moisture but is vulnerable to freeze-thaw heaving on poorly drained or compacted ground; protect late-seeded acres in breezy, dry air that can desiccate seedlings.
• Livestock: prepare for wind-driven chill events on the Plains and interior West; ensure windbreaks and unfrozen water access.
• Specialty crops: monitor overnight frost potential in the interior Southeast and California valleys; protect citrus and winter vegetables during clear, calm nights.
• Irrigation and water: western snowpack building is pivotal now; early-season accumulation in the Cascades and Rockies will influence late-winter runoff for 2026 plantings.

Regional overview of the last 24 hours

Note: For verified, location-specific observations, consult your local National Weather Service office or state extension. The following is a regional synthesis suitable for planning context.

Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies

Seasonally active Pacific flow favored periodic light to moderate precipitation in windward slopes, with snow at higher elevations. Valley agriculture saw cool, damp conditions that limit late field operations but help early snowpack and soil moisture recharge.

California (Central Valley and coastal ranges)

Predominantly dry to partly cloudy conditions persisted in most agricultural valleys, with cool mornings. Overnight radiational cooling supported patchy fog in typical low-lying locations, modestly increasing postharvest disease-management needs in orchards and vineyards.

Southwest deserts (Imperial, Yuma, lower Colorado River)

Dry air and large day–night temperature swings dominated, offering strong progress for winter vegetables while elevating irrigation demand and occasional wind-driven abrasion concerns near fronts.

Northern Plains and Upper Midwest

Seasonable to colder-than-average air and brisk periods favored freeze-hardening for winter wheat and pasture dormancy. Any light snow or flurries mainly affected open areas and travel rather than soil moisture.

Central and Southern Plains

Cool, dry air masses alternated with brief milder intervals. Winds created localized moisture stress on exposed wheat stands, especially where emergence is uneven or residue is sparse.

Corn Belt and Ohio Valley

Late-season showers and cloud cover were scattered, with cooler air in the northwest portion of the belt. Saturated pockets remained slow to dry, while better-drained ground saw limited, short field windows.

Delta and Mid-South

Mild to seasonably cool conditions interspersed with passing clouds and intermittent light precipitation. Fieldwork windows were variable by soil type, with heavier soils remaining sticky after any showers.

Southeast (including Florida)

Generally mild days with pockets of overnight chill inland. Patchy fog and dew supported disease pressure in leafy crops; light offshore flow kept coastal zones milder. Interior frost risk increased on clear, calm nights.

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

Cool, unsettled intervals alternated with dry, breezy spells. Higher elevations experienced wintry mix or light snow; lowlands saw chilly rain or drizzle, restricting late field operations.

Seven-day agricultural weather outlook and implications

Time window: Saturday, Nov 29 through Saturday, Dec 6. Expect a progressive, early-winter pattern featuring periodic fronts and storm systems. Day-to-day details vary locally; use this as a regional planning guide and confirm with local forecasts.

Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies

• Precipitation: Multiple impulses likely, favoring recurrent rain in coastal/valley zones and accumulating snow in the Cascades and northern Rockies. Snow levels may fluctuate with each wave.
• Temperatures: Near to below normal, with colder shots behind fronts. Freeze concerns are routine inland; orchard heaters and wind machines may be needed on the coldest, calm nights.
• Ag impacts: Improved mountain snowpack and soil moisture recharge; field access will be limited on wet breaks. Monitor saturated topsoils for equipment rutting and nutrient loss.

California (Central Valley, coastal and inland valleys)

• Precipitation: Limited chances statewide early; a late-week system could brush the north with light rain while central and southern valleys stay mostly dry.
• Temperatures: Cool mornings with patchy fog; afternoons seasonable. Coldest interior pockets may flirt with frost on clear, windless nights.
• Ag impacts: Favorable harvest and orchard work windows overall. Maintain frost protection protocols for citrus and young orchards; continue sanitation and canker management given fog/dew cycles.

Southwest deserts

• Precipitation: Low probability through most of the period; a brief, dry front could bring gusty winds mid- to late-week.
• Temperatures: Mild days, cool nights; notable diurnal range persists.
• Ag impacts: Strong progress for winter veg; plan irrigation around wind events; secure row covers where gusts exceed handling thresholds.

Northern Plains and Upper Midwest

• Precipitation: Light snow or flurry episodes with passing clippers; any heavier snow would be localized along favored tracks.
• Temperatures: Generally below normal with periodic reinforcing cold fronts; wind chills noteworthy on exposed rangeland.
• Ag impacts: Winter wheat hardening continues; protect livestock from wind-driven chill, especially newborn or thin animals. Ice formation on tanks/troughs likely in morning hours.

Central and Southern Plains

• Precipitation: Limited moisture overall; a front mid- to late-week could bring scattered light rain or a brief wintry mix north.
• Temperatures: Wide swings—mild prefrontal, then a sharp cool-down with gusty north winds.
• Ag impacts: Marginal moisture remains a concern for late-emerging wheat; consider surface residue retention and avoid unnecessary traffic on vulnerable seedlings during windy, dry spells.

Corn Belt and Ohio Valley

• Precipitation: Two chances—early-week light precip with a weak wave, and another mid- to late-week along a stronger front. Mixed rain/snow possible north.
• Temperatures: Oscillating around seasonal averages; colder behind each frontal passage.
• Ag impacts: Short, opportunistic field windows between systems; watch for freeze–thaw cycles that can damage late-fall groundwork and increase compaction risk.

Delta and Mid-South

• Precipitation: Increasing mid- to late-week rain chances as Gulf moisture returns ahead of a front; locally moderate totals where bands train.
• Temperatures: Mild early, trending cooler after frontal passage.
• Ag impacts: Intermittent mud risk on poorly drained ground; schedule fertilizer applications to avoid pre-frontal wash-off. Winter wheat benefits from gentle rainfall but avoid ponding.

Southeast (including Florida)

• Precipitation: Scattered showers mid- to late-week, most frequent along and ahead of a front; lighter in the peninsula if the front weakens southward.
• Temperatures: Mild to seasonably warm ahead of the front; cooler, drier air behind it with enhanced overnight radiational cooling inland.
• Ag impacts: Elevated foliar disease pressure ahead of the front; post-frontal nights may produce inland frost—protect leafy greens, strawberries, and sensitive nursery stock.

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

• Precipitation: A pair of systems likely—one light early period, then a more organized late-week front. Rain favored for lowlands; mixed precipitation possible in interior/high terrain.
• Temperatures: Variable with notable cool-downs after each system; wind episodes increase chill exposure.
• Ag impacts: Limited field access in wet pockets; ensure livestock shelter from wind and precipitation. Monitor orchard blocks for limb stress if wet snow develops in higher elevations.

Operational planning notes

• Frost and freeze: Highest inland risk on clear, calm nights immediately following frontal passages; use low spots and sheltered fields as sentinels.
• Wind and spray windows: Gaps between systems offer calmer mornings; avoid applications ahead of fronts where gusts increase drift potential.
• Soil moisture and traffic: Prefer lighter equipment and controlled traffic patterns where topsoil is near field capacity to curb compaction before winter.
• Livestock care: Stage extra bedding and ensure ice mitigation on waterers ahead of cold snaps; check ventilation in barns to balance humidity with heat retention.
• Irrigation scheduling (West/Southwest): Leverage cooler air to reduce evapotranspiration but adjust for dry winds that spike short-term demand.

What to monitor daily

• Local frost advisories and wind chill statements for rapid operational decisions.
• Short-range model trends for frontal timing that can shift spray/harvest windows by 6–18 hours.
• Snow-level forecasts in western watersheds; early-season snowpack is pivotal for 2026 water allocations.
• Bands of training showers in the Delta/Southeast that can quickly push soils from workable to saturated.

For farm-by-field precision, check your local National Weather Service forecast and state extension advisories throughout the week.