Note for readers: This national agricultural weather briefing offers a broad, region-by-region outlook. It does not include verified, location-specific observations from the last 24 hours. For farm-level decisions and exact local conditions, consult your National Weather Service office or trusted local forecast provider.

National overview for U.S. agricultural regions

As winter transitions toward early spring, the agricultural weather picture across the United States commonly features quick-moving systems across the northern tier, changeable temperatures in the Plains and Midwest, and periodic Gulf-fed moisture for the South and East. The West often alternates between stormy intervals favoring coastal rain and mountain snow and shorter, calmer breaks. Over the next seven days, producers should plan for intermittent precipitation and temperature swings, with brief fieldwork windows clustered between fronts.

What likely mattered for fields and livestock in the past 24 hours

Conditions vary widely by region this time of year. The following checklists highlight the kinds of impacts producers commonly contend with late in the winter season and are useful prompts as you assess your own operation’s past-day conditions.

Pacific Northwest (PNW)

  • Coastal/valley light to moderate showers can leave tacky topsoil; mountain passes often see accumulating snow complicating transport.
  • Cool, damp conditions favor disease pressure in overwintering specialty crops; ventilate storage and monitor sprouting.

California (Central Valley, coastal, Sierra foothills)

  • Patchy fog or low stratus commonly limits early-day field access; any overnight drizzle keeps orchard floors soft.
  • Chill accumulation remains adequate; watch for mid-morning frost pockets in wind-sheltered orchards and vineyards.

Southwest Deserts (AZ, NM low deserts)

  • Dry air and clear skies favor strong radiational cooling; localized frost possible in cooler valleys.
  • Low humidity supports harvest/fieldwork but elevates dust potential on tilled ground.

Northern Rockies and High Plains

  • Light snow and brisk winds are frequent this time of year; drifting can affect livestock water access and rural roads.
  • Cold mornings raise newborn livestock stress; provide windbreaks and dry bedding.

Central and Southern Plains (winter wheat, cattle country)

  • Day-to-day swings between mild and chilly are common; brief downslope winds dry topsoil quickly.
  • If a weak front passed, light precip likely patchy; many areas see dust and fire-weather concerns on warmer, windy afternoons.

Midwest/Corn Belt

  • Mixed precipitation is typical: light snow north, rain/drizzle south; freeze–thaw cycles create muddy feedlot conditions.
  • Brief thaws can settle snowpack and increase slush on rural routes.

Delta and Mid-South

  • Intermittent showers keep topsoil moist to wet; ruts develop easily where recent field traffic occurred.
  • Mild, humid air favors small-grain growth but elevates disease pressure.

Southeast (Gulf Coast, Florida, Carolinas, Georgia)

  • Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms are common this time of year; brief heavy downpours cause ponding in poorly drained fields.
  • Warm intervals support rapid pasture response; brief radiational cool-downs can still produce patchy frost inland.

Northeast

  • Rain/snow mix frequently toggles with elevation; interior valleys can see icy spots at daybreak.
  • Wind gusts behind passing fronts increase livestock chill and reduce controlled-burn windows.

Seven-day agricultural forecast and impacts

This outlook emphasizes temperature trends, precipitation timing/phase, and the most likely fieldwork and livestock considerations through the next seven days.

Pacific Northwest

  • Precipitation: Periodic coastal rain and mountain snow on several days, separated by short breaks. Snow levels fluctuating with each disturbance.
  • Temperatures: Near to slightly below seasonal norms in unsettled periods; brief moderating between fronts.
  • Ag impacts: Recurrent mud in lowlands; limited spray windows between showers. Strong mountain snowpack maintenance; monitor barn roof loads and access roads.

California

  • Precipitation: Northern and central portions see one or two light-to-moderate events; southern California trends drier with only spotty light showers.
  • Temperatures: Near seasonal; cool mornings with localized frost in sheltered interior valleys on clearer nights.
  • Ag impacts: Orchard floor trafficability remains variable—best windows 24–36 hours after each event. Sierra snow supports water supply but can slow foothill access. Watch for bloom-stage sensitivity in early varieties if a clear, cold night occurs.

Southwest Deserts

  • Precipitation: Mostly dry; a weak disturbance could bring clouds and a stray light shower to higher terrain.
  • Temperatures: Cool nights, mild afternoons; one or two chilly mornings may flirt with frost in low-lying fields.
  • Ag impacts: Favorable for harvest/transplanting; manage frost protection for sensitive vegetables and citrus in cold-prone spots.

Northern Rockies and High Plains

  • Precipitation: Several light snow episodes, with locally moderate totals in favored belts; blowing snow at times on open rangeland.
  • Temperatures: Generally below to near normal; wind chills periodically harsh.
  • Ag impacts: Calving/lambing cold stress remains a concern; ensure windbreaks and adequate energy in feed. Travel disruptions possible near passes and on exposed county roads.

Central and Southern Plains

  • Precipitation: Spotty light rain/snow with a passing front; otherwise many dry hours. A late-period front could bring a broader swath of showers.
  • Temperatures: Up-and-down pattern with 24–48 hour warmups followed by quick cool-downs.
  • Ag impacts: Winter wheat breaks dormancy unevenly where warm spells align with moisture; monitor for burn-back after cold snaps. Elevated grassfire risk on warmer, windy days, especially west of I-35.

Midwest/Corn Belt

  • Precipitation: Two waves likely—early/mid-period light mix, late-period broader system. Rain favored south/east; snow or wintry mix north/west.
  • Temperatures: Near normal overall but highly variable day to day; frequent freeze–thaw cycles.
  • Ag impacts: Muddy feedlots and softened farm lanes during thaws; monitor ice in yard lots and around bins as temps refreeze overnight. Limited spray windows; storage ventilation important on humid days.

Delta and Mid-South

  • Precipitation: Several rounds of showers; a stronger front could produce locally heavy rain and a few thunderstorms.
  • Temperatures: Mild to warm for February with brief cool-downs post-front.
  • Ag impacts: Field drying windows short; avoid compaction by deferring traffic 24–48 hours after heavier showers. Elevated disease pressure for small grains; scout for rust and foliar issues.

Southeast

  • Precipitation: Intermittent Gulf and Atlantic moisture brings scattered showers and a few thunderstorms, most frequent along the Gulf Coast and Florida Peninsula.
  • Temperatures: Above normal at times; a brief, modest cool shot follows each front.
  • Ag impacts: Good pasture response where rain is moderate; brief flooding/ponding in poorly drained fields with heavier downpours. Low, but not zero, late-season frost risk on clear, dry post-frontal nights inland.

Northeast

  • Precipitation: Multiple systems bring rain/snow mix; interior higher terrain favors snow/ice, coastal plain favors rain.
  • Temperatures: Variable, oscillating above and below freezing; windy behind each frontal passage.
  • Ag impacts: Icy farm lanes at daybreak; manage livestock wind exposure. Maple operations monitor sap flows with temperature swings.

Fieldwork and risk windows at a glance

  • Best odds for multi-day dry stretches: Southwest deserts; parts of southern California; intermittently in the Central/Southern High Plains between fronts.
  • Most frequent precipitation interruptions: Pacific Northwest; Northern Rockies/High Plains; Midwest/Corn Belt; Northeast; Gulf Coast/Delta.
  • Freeze/frost watch-outs: Interior California valleys and Southwest low spots on clear nights; northern Plains and Upper Midwest most mornings; inland Southeast on the first clear night after a front.
  • Wind-driven concerns: Open High Plains and Northern Rockies (blowing snow, livestock stress); coastal Northeast during/after systems; occasional gusty periods in the Midwest and Delta with frontal passages.
  • Fire-weather flashes: Southern High Plains on warm, dry, breezy afternoons; minimize sparks and secure equipment exhausts.

Crops and livestock: actionable considerations

  • Winter wheat (Plains, Midwest): Expect uneven green-up where warm breaks coincide with moisture; be prepared to assess winterkill only after a sustained mild period. Avoid grazing too close ahead of a cold snap.
  • Specialty crops (California, PNW): Use short dry breaks for fungicide coverage; monitor for frost during clear, calm nights in sheltered orchards and vineyards. Manage orchard floor moisture to protect roots and maintain access.
  • Row-crop planning (Delta, Southeast): Wet-field risk remains elevated; prioritize drainage maintenance and delay heavy equipment after significant showers to reduce compaction ahead of planting windows.
  • Livestock (Northern tier, High Plains): Prepare for repeated cold-wind episodes; provide windbreaks, dry bedding, and ensure reliable water access where drifting or ice may impede lines.
  • Pasture/forage (Southeast): Rapid growth spurts likely after rain and warmth; consider targeted grazing to capture quality and reduce waste.

Safety and planning reminders

  • Time field operations to 24–48 hours after rainfall where soils are fine-textured to minimize rutting and compaction.
  • Schedule pesticide applications during the shorter dry and lighter-wind intervals; watch inversion conditions on clear, cool mornings.
  • Secure tarps and lightweight equipment ahead of gusty frontal passages; clear culverts and ditches where multiple rounds of rain are expected.
  • Use windchill and livestock cold-stress charts during calving/lambing periods; adjust energy density of rations during extended cold snaps.

For precise, county-level forecasts and hazard statements, consult your local National Weather Service office or extension weather network before mobilizing equipment or livestock.