Advisory: This article provides a broad, agriculture-focused overview and planning guidance. It may not reflect exact conditions at your farm or county in the past 24 hours, and specific timing/details for the next 7 days can change. For site-specific forecasts, observations, and any warnings, check your local National Weather Service office (weather.gov), state mesonet, and cooperative extension.

Past 24 Hours: Field Conditions and Impacts by Region

Early February often brings sharp day-to-day swings driven by fast-moving disturbances and contrasting air masses. Verify locally for exact amounts and timing, but the following captures what many producers contend with at this point in the season and what to check in fields and livestock operations.

Midwest Corn Belt (IA, IL, IN, OH, MO, eastern NE/KS)

  • Freeze–thaw cycles: Morning crust and soft/muddy afternoons are common, especially south of I-80. Expect rutting risk on ungraveled lanes and field approaches.
  • Light mixed precip bands and flurries in the north; drizzle or light rain more likely toward the southern tier when Gulf moisture noses in. Breezy periods can add livestock chill stress.
  • Manure hauling windows remain narrow where topsoil is saturated; tile outlets may run intermittently.

Northern Plains and Upper Midwest (ND, SD, northern MN, MT)

  • Cold, dry air remains a frequent visitor. Patchy to solid snow cover persists in places; drifting and crusting are possible on open ground when winds freshen.
  • Ranch access can be limited where packed snow and icy approaches meet thawed top layers during brief warmups.

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

  • Winter wheat: Dormancy varies by latitude and elevation. Shallow soil moisture is uneven; light precipitation episodes help recharge, but wind can quickly dry topsoil.
  • Downslope wind events periodically elevate fire danger in cured rangeland; blowing dust is possible on recently worked or fallowed fields.

Delta and Mid-South (AR, LA, MS, western TN)

  • Intermittent showers and embedded thunder are seasonally common. Low-lying fields may stay wet; ruts from prior traffic can pond water.
  • Warm, humid spells promote early weed flushes and elevate disease pressure in winter grains during wetter periods.

Southeast and Florida

  • Onshore Gulf flow favors scattered showers; breaks between fronts bring clearer, cooler nights inland. Patchy frost remains possible away from the coast under clear, calm conditions.
  • Vegetables, strawberries, and citrus in interior pockets should continue routine frost-monitoring on radiational nights.

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

  • Mixed precipitation is typical with passing systems: snow north and higher terrain; wintry mix or rain south and along the coast. Black ice can form after sunset on back roads and farmyards.
  • Lake-effect snow belts remain prone to quick squalls and localized whiteouts.

Pacific Northwest (WA, OR, ID)

  • Frequent coastal rain and mountain snow keep soils saturated west of the Cascades; field access is limited in heavier clay ground.
  • Inland valleys see cool, damp conditions; watch for standing water in low spots and rain-on-snow runoff where mid-elevation snowpack exists.

California (Central Valley, Coastal, Sierra/SoCal ranges)

  • Valley: Cool, stable nights favor tule fog during calm periods. Occasional light to moderate rain maintains soil moisture; orchard disease pressure rises during wet stretches.
  • Mountains: Sierra snow accumulations continue episodically; pass travel can be impacted when systems move through.

Southwest Deserts (AZ, NM, Imperial Valley CA)

  • Generally dry with cool to seasonably mild days and chilly nights. Isolated frost pockets occur in colder valleys under clear skies.
  • Irrigation demand remains modest; wind can intermittently stress young leafy greens.

Rockies and Intermountain West (CO, UT, WY, NV)

  • Periodic mountain snow and valley flurries; cold nights in basins. Rangeland access varies with elevation and aspect; south-facing slopes open up sooner.
  • Watch for crusted snow over softer layers in the morning transitioning to slush in sun-exposed areas.

Next 7 Days: Agriculture-Focused Outlook

Confidence is moderate for broad patterns and lower for exact timing/amounts by county. Expect a progressive west-to-east storm track with temperature swings tied to frontal passages.

Early to Midweek

  • West Coast and Pacific Northwest: Another Pacific disturbance is likely. Expect periods of coastal rain and mountain snow from the Olympics/Cascades into parts of northern California. If a stronger moisture plume develops, totals increase along windward slopes; otherwise, lighter, showery episodes prevail.
  • California Central Valley: Showery periods possible north; central/southern sections may see lighter activity or just fog/low stratus. Brief fieldwork windows will open between events but remain narrow on heavy soils.
  • Plains and Midwest: A front spreads light snow across the northern tier and light rain or mixed precip south of the snow band. Temperatures run near to slightly above seasonal normals ahead of the front, trending cooler behind it.
  • Delta/Southeast/Gulf Coast: Intervals of showers and a few thunderstorms, especially near the Gulf. Where soils are saturated, localized field flooding/ponding can recur. Between fronts, a drier, cooler shot follows with improved harvest/field prep windows.
  • Northeast/Mid-Atlantic: A quick-hitting system brings a swath of snow north and interior, with rain or mixed precip closer to the coast. Slick travel and farm-lane ice are possible during and after the event.

Late Week into Weekend

  • Northern tier (Northern Plains/Upper Midwest/Northern Great Lakes): A reinforcing cold push is possible, with brisk winds increasing livestock chill stress. Light, fluffy snow or snow showers may accompany it, favoring lake-effect zones.
  • Central U.S. to East: A developing low may track from the Southern Plains or Lower Mississippi Valley toward the Appalachians/Mid-Atlantic. Track will determine rain versus snow: colder, more northerly paths favor snow bands in the Midwest/Interior Northeast; a southern track tilts toward cold rain south with snow confined north. Confidence is currently low on the exact corridor and amounts.
  • West: A brief lull may be followed by another weak Pacific impulse. California’s precipitation chances hinge on how far south the jet dips; any shift could bring helpful valley rain and additional Sierra snow, but details are uncertain.
  • Southwest deserts: Mostly dry. Cool to seasonably mild days with chilly nights; a few interior valleys could flirt with frost on the clearest, calmest nights.
  • Southeast/Florida: At least one frontal passage brings showers, followed by a cooler, drier air mass. Interior frost potential returns on clear nights behind the front; coastal zones stay milder.

Temperature Tendencies

  • Northern Plains/Upper Midwest/Northern Rockies: Near to below normal overall, with colder bursts late week and into the weekend.
  • Central Plains/Corn Belt: Variable; near normal to slightly above ahead of fronts, trending to near or a bit below normal behind.
  • Delta/Southeast/Florida: Near normal to slightly above on humid, pre-frontal days; a step down to near or slightly below normal for 1–2 days behind fronts.
  • West Coast/PNW/California: Near normal along the coast; cooler than normal in higher terrain during unsettled periods; interior valleys near seasonal, cooler on foggy mornings.
  • Southwest deserts: Near normal days with cooler-than-normal nights in favored cold spots.

Precipitation Tendencies

  • Above to much above normal risk: Pacific Northwest coastal ranges and Cascades; parts of the northern Sierra if the storm track is active; localized lake-effect belts downwind of the Great Lakes.
  • Near to above normal risk: Central U.S. storm track corridor from the Southern Plains through the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys into the Mid-Atlantic, depending on the late-week system’s path.
  • Below to near normal risk: Southwest deserts and portions of the northern High Plains that miss organized systems.

Field and Herd Management Notes

  • Soil trafficability: Expect short, opportunistic windows between showers in the Delta/Southeast and between systems in California’s Central Valley. In the Corn Belt, plan around daily thaw cycles to avoid rutting.
  • Winter wheat: Windy, dry spells in the Southern Plains can desiccate topsoil; light precipitation will help, but stands on exposed ridges remain vulnerable to wind desiccation and abrasive blowing soil.
  • Cold stress: Northern Plains/Upper Midwest livestock face higher chill stress late week with gusty winds; ensure windbreak access and adequate bedding during the coldest snaps.
  • Tree fruit and nuts: In the West, alternating wet/dry spells support disease management attention in orchards and vineyards; monitor for pruning wound protection needs during wet windows.
  • Row crops and vegetables (Southeast/Florida): Maintain frost monitoring plans for interior zones on the clear nights that follow frontal passages.
  • Flood/runoff: Where rain falls on snow in the Northwest or interior Northeast, watch low-water crossings and small creeks for rapid rises; clear debris from inlets and farm drains ahead of wetter periods.

How to Get Local, Official Updates

  • National Weather Service local office: weather.gov (enter your ZIP code)
  • River forecasts and rainfall outlooks: Weather Prediction Center (wpc.ncep.noaa.gov)
  • Thunderstorm/tornado outlooks: Storm Prediction Center (spc.noaa.gov)
  • State mesonets and cooperative extensions for county-level observations and advisories