Eastern Cornbelt:
Steady rainfall was reported across the Eastern Cornbelt early in the week, with temperatures topping out in the 40s and low-50s. Up to a half-inch of precipitation was recorded in northern Ohio, with periods of heavy rain also soaking northern Illinois on Nov. 20.
Growers were bringing in the last of the regional corn harvest in late November, with progress as of Nov. 19 estimated at 97% in Illinois, 90% in Indiana, 81% in Ohio, and 67% in Michigan.
Western Cornbelt:
Mostly dry conditions were reported across Iowa and Nebraska during the Thanksgiving week, with temperatures climbing to the 50s and 60s. Forecasts warned of potential snow in parts of western Nebraska late in the week, however, with 4-8 inches of accumulation possible across several eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska counties.
The regional corn harvest had progressed to 95-97% complete by Nov. 19, with all three states tracking ahead of their five-year averages. The cotton harvest was rated at 98% complete in Missouri, with the sorghum harvest at 95% complete in Nebraska.
Southern Plains:
Light rainfall was reported across eastern Kansas early in the week, with temperatures peaking in the upper-40s. The same system brought rain to parts of Oklahoma as well, along with gusty winds, with lows falling to the upper-20s and highs reaching the mid-50s by midweek.
Rain also hit parts of northern Texas on Nov. 20, but heavier precipitation fell in eastern areas of the state. Lows in the 30s and highs in the 50s were in the forecast for northern Texas for the balance of the week.
Much-needed rain was reported in parts of New Mexico over the prior weekend, along with snow at higher elevations. The moisture was followed by clear, cold weather, with highs in the 40s and 50s and lows dropping to the 20s and 30s.
The fall harvest was winding down in the Southern Plains, with 95-100% of the corn and sorghum in the bin as of Nov. 19. The cotton harvest was reported at 73-78% complete in Kansas and Oklahoma by that date, slightly ahead of the 68% harvest progress in Texas.
South Central:
A tornado watch was in effect for parts of eastern Texas, western Louisiana, and southwestern Arkansas on Nov. 20, impacting roughly 3 million residents. The system also brought severe storms to Mississippi as it tracked eastward, causing power outages and some structural damage.
Counties along the Tennessee-North Carolina state line were under a red flag fire warning on Nov. 21 due to high winds and worsening drought conditions. By contrast, a weather system brought scattered rains and cool temperatures to Kentucky early in the week, with highs topping out in the 50s.
The fall harvest was rapidly winding down in the South Central region, with 95-98% of the regional corn crop in the bin, along with 95-100% of the cotton.
Southeast:
Showers and thunderstorms were working their way through the Southeast early in the week, bringing heavy rain and gusty winds to southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle on Nov. 21, along with several tornado watches.
The storm threat then shifted to Georgia and the Carolinas, where forecasts warned of strong winds and potential tornados on Nov. 21-22.
The harvest of cotton and peanuts was tracking close to the average pace in the region. Alabama growers had 89% of the cotton picked by Nov. 19, compared with 86% in North Carolina, 73% in South Carolina, 71% in Virginia, and 67% in Georgia. The peanut harvest was finished in Virginia and 91-97% complete in the rest of the Southeast by that date.