Hot summer across U.S.; dry in western Corn Belt, Southern Plains

The National Weather Service 90-day forecast calls for elevated odds of above-normal temps across virtually the entire country for June through August. Below-normal precip is also expected across much of the western Corn Belt with the exception of Minnesota, extreme northeastern South Dakota, the roughly eastern half of North Dakota and southeastern Missouri, which are expected to have “equal chances” of precip during the summer months. Below-normal precip is also likely across crop areas of the Southern Plains.

“Equal chances” of precip are expected across the eastern Corn Belt and Delta. The Southeast is likely to experience above-normal rainfall during summer.

If the forecast verifies, it suggests crop stress could develop across the western Corn Belt and persist in the Southern Plains, while summer weather will depend on the timeliness of rains in the eastern Corn Belt and Delta. Growing conditions should be generally favorable in the Southeast.