Mild Weekend Temperatures Expected Amid Moisture Extremes

The dominant crop weather story heading into the weekend is one of precipitation and resulting soil moisture extremes: They’re reaching dire levels in parts of the far northern Plains and the Southwest, with red flag warnings in the Four Corners area and points south. Meanwhile, rain and snow has eased moisture shortfalls in parts of the Midwest and eastern Plains. Temperatures dipped far enough to trigger some frost and freeze warnings in areas where spring fieldwork is well underway overnight, while a system is expected to move through parts of the central Plains Friday and into the weekend, delivering some badly needed moisture in the form of both snow and rain that could disrupt any planting progress. Looking ahead, temperatures will likely remain on the cool side through about the middle of next week for much of the Corn Belt where corn and now soybean planting is well underway. See more from the latest outlook and check the latest U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday.