Recent 24-Hour Conditions Across Key Production Regions

Mid-February commonly brings sharp diurnal temperature swings, intermittent light precipitation, and pockets of dense fog in valleys. Across the agricultural belt, most winter wheat remains largely dormant, rangelands face periodic freeze–thaw stress, and humidity-driven disease risks tend to rise during damp or foggy mornings. The following notes reflect typical late-winter patterns that many producers may have encountered during the past day.

Pacific Northwest (PNW wheat, canola, orchards)

• Light, coastal-focused showers with cool, cloudy intervals; higher-elevation snow in the Cascades.
• East of the Cascades, generally drier with cold dawns, patchy valley fog, and localized frost.
• Implications: Surface soils remain cool; foggy mornings elevate foliar disease risk in winter cereals; pruning and trellis work windows favor midday.

California (Central Valley tree nuts, stone fruit, specialty crops; coastal berries)

• Valley inversions and localized Tule fog; coastal patches of drizzle; Sierra snow ongoing at higher elevations.
• Cool mornings and seasonable afternoons; light winds outside of frontal passages.
• Implications: Bloom management windows variable; bee flight improves during sunny, mild afternoons; watch for blossom blight risk during damp/foggy starts.

Southwest Deserts (AZ/SoCal winter vegetables and leafy greens)

• Predominantly dry with clear skies; chilly dawns and mild afternoons; occasional breeziness.
• Implications: Irrigation intervals steady to slightly lengthening; frost pockets possible in low-lying fields just before sunrise.

Northern Plains (MT/ND/SD wheat and cattle)

• Seasonally cold with sporadic light snow or flurries; brisk wind at times leading to low wind chills.
• Implications: Livestock cold stress elevated during morning and evening periods; snow cover supports spring soil moisture but may complicate transport.

Central & Southern Plains (KS/OK/TX winter wheat, cattle)

• Freeze–thaw cycles common; variable cloud cover with pockets of light precipitation mainly along/east of the I-35 corridor.
• Implications: Dormant wheat largely stable; windy intervals can dry topsoil and elevate rangeland fire risk on the High Plains.

Midwest/Corn Belt (IA/IL/IN/OH and surrounds)

• Chilly mornings, seasonable afternoons; scattered light snow or mixed precipitation; lake-effect flurries downwind of the Great Lakes.
• Implications: Limited fieldwork windows where ground is frozen; equipment maintenance and grain movement remain the primary activities.

Delta & Mid-South (AR/MS/TN/LA; early field prep for cotton/soy/corn)

• Cool, damp starts with periodic showers; cloudy intervals lingering.
• Implications: Field drying slows; mild breaks can prompt early weed flushes; bottomland soils remain soft.

Southeast (Gulf Coast through Carolinas; citrus, vegetables, row crops)

• Passing showers along frontal boundaries; clear, cooler nights inland with patchy radiation frost in colder pockets.
• Implications: Citrus and tender vegetables may need localized protection during the coldest pre-dawn hours; disease pressure rises during humid stretches.

Northeast (dairy, tree fruit, vegetables)

• Wintry mix in spots with light snow north; breezy coastal intervals; cold mornings.
• Implications: Orchard pruning windows vary; maple sap flow benefits from cycles of freezing nights and milder afternoons.

Rockies & Intermountain West (rangeland, hay, specialty crops)

• Cold valley inversions; intermittent mountain snow maintaining or building snowpack.
• Implications: Stock water troughs prone to icing; snowpack remains the key reservoir signal for irrigation season planning.

Seven-Day Agricultural Weather Outlook

The coming week typically features a couple of quick-moving disturbances across the northern tier and central states, with periodic Gulf moisture feeding showers in the South and Southeast. Expect day-to-day variability rather than a single dominant pattern. Use the guidance below as a regional planning aid and confirm timing and intensity locally.

Pacific Northwest

• Precipitation: Occasional light-to-moderate rain west of the Cascades; intermittent mountain snow. East-side largely dry with brief showers possible late in the week.
• Temperature: Seasonably cool; frequent subfreezing dawns inland maintain dormancy.
• Risks/Opportunities: Manage cereal leaf disease risk after damp nights; schedule pruning, trellis, and orchard floor work during the drier midday periods.

California

• Precipitation: Northern half has the better chance for light rain; Central Valley may see drizzle or a brief shower; Sierra receives periodic light snow.
• Temperature: Cool mornings with frost risk in interior valleys; mild, brighter afternoons favor pollinator activity.
• Risks/Opportunities: Almond bloom—optimize bee placement for midday flight; monitor for blossom blight after foggy/wet periods; orchard floor management ahead of any rain bursts.

Southwest Deserts

• Precipitation: Predominantly dry.
• Temperature: Gradual day-to-day warming; coldest pockets still near frost at dawn on clear, calm nights.
• Risks/Opportunities: Wind episodes can stress leafy crops—stagger harvest and adjust irrigation to reduce tip burn; plan fungicides/foliar applications for calm mornings.

Northern Plains

• Precipitation: One or two clipper-type systems bringing light snow; areas of blowing/drifting where winds align.
• Temperature: Persistently cold; notable wind chill events possible.
• Risks/Opportunities: Heightened livestock cold stress; ensure shelter, bedding, and energy-dense rations; maintain access to unfrozen water and monitor neonatal calves closely.

Central & Southern Plains

• Precipitation: Scattered light rain east and south; light snow or mix possible toward KS/OK Panhandle zones with passing fronts.
• Temperature: Wide swings with brief warmups followed by reinforcing cool shots.
• Risks/Opportunities: Dormant wheat generally resilient; watch for desiccation and wind erosion on bare fields; elevated rangeland fire weather on breezy, dry days—stage suppression resources accordingly.

Midwest/Corn Belt

• Precipitation: Several weak waves producing light snow north and a rain/snow mix south; lake-effect flurries at times.
• Temperature: Near seasonal to slightly variable around freezing; freeze–thaw cycles persist.
• Risks/Opportunities: Limited fieldwork beyond hauling and maintenance; utilize frozen-ground windows for manure management under local rules; inspect grain bins for condensation and caking during temperature swings.

Delta & Mid-South

• Precipitation: Periodic showers and a few thunderstorms as Gulf moisture returns in pulses; locally heavy downpours possible in a 24-hour window.
• Temperature: Generally cool to mild; brief warm surges ahead of fronts.
• Risks/Opportunities: Field drying is uneven; time field prep between rain episodes; anticipate early-season weed pressure; check levees and drainage for ponding after heavier bursts.

Southeast

• Precipitation: Frontal passages every few days bring showers; a stronger line could develop along the central Gulf Coast before weakening inland.
• Temperature: Mild afternoons with occasional cool, clear nights inland that can support patchy frost.
• Risks/Opportunities: Citrus and tender crops—deploy microsprinklers, covers, or wind machines in known cold hollows on radiational nights; disease management for strawberries and leafy greens during humid stretches.

Northeast

• Precipitation: A chance for a coastal or interior system to deliver snow north and a wintry mix or rain south; light events otherwise between systems.
• Temperature: Chilly overall; periodic moderation supports sap runs following subfreezing nights.
• Risks/Opportunities: Orchard cold injury risk remains low-to-moderate in dormant blocks; maintain greenhouse heating redundancy during colder snaps; schedule pruning around wind and precipitation.

Rockies & Intermountain West

• Precipitation: Additional mountain snow with modest accumulations; lighter totals in adjacent valleys.
• Temperature: Cold valleys under inversions; mountain highs remain winterlike.
• Risks/Opportunities: Continue snowpack monitoring for spring allocation planning; protect livestock from prolonged exposure; maintain access to feed and water amid drifting or icy conditions.

Operational Watch-List for the Week Ahead

• Freeze and frost: Interior CA valleys, Southeast inland zones, and High Plains cold pockets—use localized forecast lows and dew points to plan protection for citrus, bloom-stage orchards, and tender vegetables.
• Wind-driven hazards: Southern High Plains and desert growing regions—prepare for episodes of low humidity and gusty winds that elevate fire danger and desiccate topsoil/canopy.
• Cold stress in livestock: Northern Plains and higher elevations—prioritize windbreaks, bedding, and warm water access; adjust nutrition for energy demand.
• Disease pressure: Foggy or damp mornings increase foliar disease risk in cereals, berries, and leafy greens—tighten scouting intervals and rotate chemistries per label and resistance guidelines.
• Field access: Delta/Mid-South and Southeast—sequence tillage and fertilizer applications between showers; verify tire/axle loads on soft ground to prevent compaction.
• Grain storage: In the Corn Belt and Plains, manage aeration to limit condensation as outside temperatures fluctuate; check for crusting and hotspots.
• Transport and logistics: Anticipate intermittent mountain pass restrictions from snow and occasional Midwest/Northeast slush or ice impacting hauls.

Where to Get Localized, Up-to-Date Guidance

• National Weather Service local forecast: weather.gov (enter city or ZIP for hazards, hourly temps, wind, and precipitation timing)
• River forecasts and flood outlooks: water.weather.gov
• Drought and soil moisture context: droughtmonitor.unl.edu and USDA Crop Progress updates via nass.usda.gov
• Fire weather outlooks: spc.noaa.gov and gacc.nifc.gov