Warm, wet forecast for eastern Corn Belt through July

The National Weather Service (NWS) extended forecast calls for increased chances of above-normal temperatures across the Southern Plains and nearly all the eastern half of the country during the May through July period. There are “equal chances” for average, below-average and above-average temps cross the northern Corn Belt and Central/Northern Plains during the period. The 90-day forecast calls for above-normal precip over the southeastern quadrant of the country, including all but the far northern areas of the eastern Corn Belt. The remainder of the Corn Belt has “equal chances” for precip.

The entire Southern Plains region is expected to see above-normal temps, while the area of below-normal precip shrinks to West Texas and much of the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma. Kansas is expected to have “equal chances” for precip through the HRW harvest.  

The Seasonal Drought Monitor calls for drought to persist or develop across the western half of Texas and Oklahoma, and all but the northeastern portion of Kansas through July. Drought improvement or removal is expected across Nebraska, northwestern Iowa, southwestern Minnesota and pockets of the Northern Plains during the period.