National Snapshot: What Producers Experienced in the Last 24 Hours

Winter held a fairly typical grip across U.S. farm country. Conditions varied by region, with quiet stretches punctuated by pockets of light precipitation and chilly mornings. Many areas dealt with damp ground, patchy fog, or frost at daybreak, while wind-chill and intermittent flurries affected northern latitudes. Road conditions were locally slick in lake-effect and higher-elevation zones, and temperature swings remained notable from desert valleys to open rangeland.

Note for readers: This report provides a region-by-region situational overview and general 7‑day tendencies. For exact, location-specific details and any active advisories, check your local National Weather Service office or trusted state extension resources.

Regional Recap: Last 24 Hours

Pacific Northwest (WA, OR, ID wheat/seed, tree fruit)

  • On-and-off light rain along the coast and lower valleys, with light snow in higher terrain; damp fields and slow drying between showers.
  • Cool mornings with areas of fog; intermittent breezes near gaps and exposed ridgetops.

California (Central Valley specialty crops, coastal produce)

  • Mostly dry in key production areas with widespread valley fog/low clouds; localized morning frost in colder pockets.
  • Mountain zones observed light snow showers in spots; field activity limited early day where visibility was low.

Southwest Deserts (AZ, CA desert produce, southern NM)

  • Predominantly dry; large day–night temperature ranges with chilly dawns and mild afternoons.
  • Patchy frost formed in low-lying fields; irrigation scheduling continued uninterrupted.

Northern Rockies & High Plains (MT, WY, western ND/SD rangeland, small grains)

  • Light snow or flurries in spots with brisk winds on open ground; wind chills notable for livestock.
  • Road surfaces locally slick near passes and exposed prairie stretches.

Northern Plains (ND, SD, MN—row crops, cattle)

  • Seasonably cold; scattered flurries/light snow in favored bands, otherwise dry.
  • Feedlot and calving operations navigated chilly starts and variable breezes.

Central & Southern Plains (NE, KS, OK, TX Panhandle—winter wheat, cattle)

  • Generally dry with mixed sun/clouds; soils remained on the dry side in many wheat areas.
  • Morning freezes common; range conditions steady but still dependent on supplemental feed in colder locales.

Midwest/Corn Belt (IA, IL, IN, OH, MO, WI, MI—corn/soy, hogs, dairy)

  • Northern tier saw clouds and pockets of light snow or drizzle; southern tier stayed quieter and cool.
  • Frosty dawns with slick rural routes in spots; grain movement steady with caution on untreated surfaces.

Delta & Mid-South (AR, LA, MS, western TN—row crops, rice storage)

  • Mostly tranquil; patchy morning fog where humidity pooled over damp ground.
  • Cool nights; storage and transport operations benefited from calm conditions.

Southeast (AL, GA, SC, NC, FL—produce, peanuts, cotton residues, citrus)

  • Intervals of coastal/Gulf showers; interior areas mainly dry with scattered frost pockets at sunrise.
  • Horticulture and citrus monitored cold spots; plasticulture protected tender crops where needed.

Mid-Atlantic & Northeast (PA, NY, VT/NH/ME, NJ, MD/DE—dairy, veg, orchards)

  • Seasonable cold; light snow showers in lake-effect belts and higher terrain.
  • Localized icy patches on secondary roads early; orchard blocks saw typical mid-winter chill hours accumulate.

National Themes: The Next 7 Days

  • Storm Track: One or two fast-moving systems are likely to traverse the northern tier and Midwest, with weaker impulses farther south. The Northwest remains periodically unsettled; the Southwest stays predominantly dry.
  • Temperatures: Near to below seasonal north; near to slightly above seasonal across portions of the southern tier on several afternoons. Expect a few crisp mornings with frost/freeze risk inland across the South and interior West valleys.
  • Precipitation: Light to locally moderate events favored from the Pacific Northwest into the northern Rockies and again across the Great Lakes/Northeast at times. Lighter, spottier activity elsewhere, with better rain chances hugging the Gulf Coast on one or two days.
  • Wind: Breezy spells on the northern Plains and High Plains as systems pass; localized gusts near any frontal passages across the Midwest and Mid-South.

Regional Outlook: 7-Day Details and Farm Implications

Pacific Northwest

Expect periodic rain at lower elevations and accumulating snow in the Cascades/Blues. Fieldwork windows will be short between showers; soft ground persists. Orchard pruning and trellis work can proceed during lulls, but plan for slippery rows and equipment hygiene to limit soil compaction. Snowpack should modestly benefit.

Risks to watch: Short-duration heavy showers with small hail near the coast, slick passes, and brief windy gaps.

California

Central Valley: Predominantly dry overall with multiple mornings of fog/low stratus; radiation frost likely in colder pockets. Manage fruit set and bloom-stage sensitivities with frost protection where appropriate. Coastal fields see sporadic light showers at times but long dry stretches prevail.

Sierra: Occasional light snow accumulations at higher elevations; no major multi-day storm signal evident.

Risks to watch: Prolonged fog reducing visibility, frost on tender produce and nursery stock, and air quality constraints during stagnant periods.

Southwest Deserts

Dry and stable. Large diurnal swings: crisp mornings, mild afternoons. Irrigation cycles remain steady; monitor for leaf tip burn in cool, dry winds. Harvest and transplant operations enjoy wide daily windows, with localized frost mitigation still prudent in low spots.

Northern Rockies & High Plains

Several weak disturbances bring on-and-off light snow and brisk winds. Rangeland and calving operations should plan for wind-chill management. Road conditions fluctuate with passing squalls and refreeze at night. Snow cover varies but offers some winter wheat insulation where present.

Northern Plains

Cold snaps interspersed with modest rebounds. Light snow chances on a couple of days, favoring the eastern Dakotas into Minnesota and again near the Canadian border. Livestock: provide wind breaks and dry bedding during breezy, cold intervals. Grain logistics: allow extra lead time around light snow events.

Central & Southern Plains

Generally limited precipitation, though a weak frontal passage could produce light rain/sprinkles east and flurries north on one day. Winter wheat benefits from cold vernalization but would appreciate moisture; topsoil dryness likely persists in pockets. Expect a few subfreezing mornings; stock tanks and lines may require checks.

Midwest/Corn Belt

Two main windows for light precipitation—first with a quick clipper-type wave, and later with a broader, weaker system. Northern zones: light snow and slick spots. Southern/central zones: mixed light rain/snow or drizzle depending on timing. Soil temperatures hold low; manure application windows limited and highly dependent on local freeze–thaw.

Watch for brief gusty winds with frontal passages and reduced visibilities in bands of snow.

Delta & Mid-South

Mostly dry to start and end the period, with a modest chance for showers tied to a passing front mid-period or along the Gulf. River logistics steady; field prep remains on hold where soils are saturated but slowly improving elsewhere. One or two mornings could flirt with a light freeze away from the coast/in urban buffers.

Southeast & Florida

Intermittent shower chances, greatest near the Gulf/Atlantic coastal strips and central/south Florida on one or two days; otherwise extended dry breaks. Inland frost potential persists on select mornings. Citrus and winter vegetables should continue cold-spot monitoring and row-cover management.

Severe weather risk appears low, but a few rumbles of thunder are possible with any stronger Gulf-front passage.

Mid-Atlantic & Northeast

Periodic light snow in the interior and lake-effect zones; mixed precipitation or light rain possible closer to the I‑95 corridor during milder intervals. Orchard chill hour accumulation continues. Snow/ice management will be an on‑and‑off factor for rural logistics, especially early mornings and evenings.

Day-by-Day Planning Guide (Next 7 Days)

  • Day 1–2: Northwest unsettled; clipper-type light snow for parts of the northern tier and Upper Midwest; quiet and dry stretches South and Southwest with chilly mornings.
  • Day 3–4: Short lull in the North before another weak wave; Gulf Coast and Florida pick up scattered showers; interior South sees patchy frost where skies clear.
  • Day 5–7: Another broad, weaker system traverses the central/northern U.S. with light precipitation; Northwest remains showery in terrain; Plains and Southwest largely on the dry side; Southeast transitions back to longer dry periods after early-week showers.

Operational Notes for Producers

  • Frost and Freeze: Expect at least a couple of mornings with frost risk across interior CA valleys, the Southeast interior, and portions of the southern Plains. Prepare covers, wind machines, or irrigation where sensitive crops/ornamentals are exposed.
  • Livestock: Plan for wind-chill episodes across the northern Plains/High Plains with adequate shelter and dry bedding; monitor waterers during subfreezing nights.
  • Field Access: Northwest and parts of the Midwest/Northeast will see muddy or slick conditions after light precipitation; schedule heavy equipment during the driest, coldest parts of the day to limit compaction and rutting.
  • Grain & Transport: Allow buffer time for rural routes in light snow/ice bands and morning fog/freeze; verify aeration plans in cool, stable air to maintain grain quality.
  • Disease Pressure: Cool, damp stretches in the Northwest and coastal Southeast favor foliar diseases in leafy greens and berries—tighten spray intervals where thresholds warrant.
  • Irrigation: Southwest deserts and much of California remain mostly dry—keep regular cycles, but leverage cool-season evapotranspiration savings to avoid overwatering.

Water Supply and Snowpack

The Pacific Northwest should see incremental snowpack contributions in the Cascades and northern Rockies with periodic storms. California’s Sierra outlook leans toward lighter, episodic snow rather than a prolonged event this week. Plains and Midwest snowfall looks light and intermittent—helpful for protecting winter wheat where it accumulates, but not a major moisture infusion. Reservoir operations and longer-term allocation planning remain dependent on future storm opportunities later in the season.