Harvest could be coming to an abrupt end at least for a while in portions of the country as heavy snowfall makes its way into the Northern Rockies and the Dakotas, along with colder conditions across much of the country.
Right now, we’re seeing some unseasonably cold air dipping across the Northern Plains and the Upper Midwest, and that is bringing with it rain and quite a bit of early-season snow. Some places could see up to 12 inches of snow by the time this system passes through.
Planting for winter wheat could be an issue over the next several days. Right now, USDA reports about 77% of the crop is in the ground. That’s about 5 points ahead of the five-year average, but a mix between drought and rain could present some problems.
“There’s still a concern for winter wheat emergence and establishment in the drought-affected areas of the southern Great Plains. We do have some tropical showers, not associated with a storm or anything. It’s just a weak tropical wave. It is bringing some rainfall to Florida. Over the next few days, some of that rain will spread to the north and west across the remainder of the southeast,” said USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey. The affected states include Alabama, Georgia, and possibly the Carolinas.
Meteorologist Matt Yarosewick breaks down the timing of the storms in his forecast. Click on the video links to learn more.
