Following weeks of dryness and intense heat, this weekend may bring hope for improved planting conditions in US Hard Red Winter country.
A looming rain event, projected to last until mid-next week, is poised to bring anywhere from about ½ to nearly 2 inches of moisture spanning from northern Nebraska through eastern Colorado to northern Texas. Large portions of Kansas, the No. 1 US winter wheat production state, could see amounts of 1 inch or more. Cooler temperatures are also in the forecast.
In addition to providing much-needed moisture for the start of the winter wheat planting season, the rainfall may be even more important given the US Climate Prediction Center’s long-term outlook for the southern Plains (along with the Midwest) is for drought development or persistence throughout the September-November period (see map below).
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