Beneficial Rains for Parched Plains, More Rain Ahead For Wet Areas

The window is open for planting in the Ohio Valley region, while more consistent rains will continue to develop in the southern Plains and western Corn Belt. Trent Ford, Illinois state climatologist, said the break in precipitation will give “waterlogged” areas in the Ohio Valley a chance to continue drying out. 

“The rain was generally good for the northern half of the Corn Belt, but the southern half of the Corn Belt could probably go the rest of the spring season without needing any more rain,” Ford said. 

Ford said that at a station near Belleville, Illinois, the water table was measured at 6 inches below ground. Otherwise, he said water tables in central Illinois are still at the normal 5–10 feet underground. Ford also said that widespread planting delays are yet to be seen in Illinois. According to the most recent Crop Progress Report, 7% of corn and 10% of soybeans have been planted in Illinois. 

“Things are wet, but not excessively,” Ford said. “So in most places, moisture measurements in central and northern parts of Illinois still have that capacity.” 

Weekend Storms

According to AccuWeather, storms focused in the Plains and eastern Corn Belt throughout the week will shift to the Ohio Valley on Friday. Although Friday’s storms aren’t predicted to be extremely severe, Ford advised that farmers take the time to make sure equipment and buildings are protected from high winds.

“Even your ‘run-of-the-mill’ spring storms can cause damage, so if your fields are too wet to get in right now, something to be doing is checking on the implement and the buildings,” Ford said. 

The Warmth is Here to Stay

Temperatures are also warming up, as both 6–10- and 8–14-day temperature outlooks by the Climate Prediction Center indicate above-average chances for above-normal to normal temperatures throughout most of the United States. Bret Walts, meteorologist for BAM Weather, said temperatures should stay consistently warm throughout the remainder of April and into May. 

“I think late-spring weather will have above-normal temperatures and will be more persistent as we close out April and start May,” Walts said. “I would keep an eye on the potential for a cold front somewhere in the first week of May, but based on what I’m seeing now, it doesn’t look all that notable to me.” 

Dry Summer Forecasted

With warmer temperatures becoming more consistent, Walts said another dry summer could be on the horizon. 

“Slowly we start to transition to what will be a drier pattern, which will help getting any last minute planting done, but it’s going to lead into a drier summer,” Walts said. “I think that transition starts to happen by mid-May.”

Walts attributes recent dry summers to two factors: coming off the fourth La Niña in five years, and colder waters off the West Coast of North America. He said these factors weaken the jet stream, which makes it easier for domes of heat to set up and for derechos to form. 

“Based on what I see right now, especially for South Dakota and Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas — in that area — a hotter than normal and a drier than normal summer as things seem right now,” Walts said. “So any rain that they can get right now is helpful.”