Eastern Cornbelt:
Heavy rain was reported in parts of Illinois and Indiana during the week, along with multiple tornado and severe storm warnings.
The severe weather outbreak on May 7 sparked an EF-0 tornado near Harvard, Ill., and as many as five tornadoes in Indiana, including an EF-0 near Greensburg, another EF-0 near St. Paul, and three additional tornadoes in Shelby, Decatur, and Rush Counties.
Ohio bore the brunt of the damage, however, with as many as 13 tornadoes reported in the state on May 7, including five in Warren County and others in Butler, Clinton, Mercer, Auglaize, Darke, Paulding, Jefferson, and Franklin Counties. Four tornadoes were confirmed in Michigan on May 7, including an EF-2 in Portage that packed 135 mph winds.
The wet weather continued to stall fieldwork and planting in the Eastern Cornbelt, though progress varied widely from region to region. Corn and soybean planting as of May 5 was reported at 31-32% complete in Illinois, 20-26% in Ohio, 20% in Indiana, and 13-16% in Michigan.
“We are still wet and haven’t got much done since Easter,” reported one Illinois contact. “Maybe our trade area is 35% planted, but that’s probably high. We have southeastern areas less than 5% planted with significant tons of preplant ammonia and dry P & K to go.”
Western Cornbelt:
The National Weather Service said four tornadoes touched down in eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa on May 6 as strong storms pounded the region. These included an EF-0 tornado near Wymore, Neb., and three EF-1 tornadoes in southwest Iowa, including one that caused considerable damage near the towns of Minden and Shelby.
The severe weather early in the week was followed by heavy rain in northern Iowa on May 8, with precipitation totals including 1.84 inches in Iowa Falls, 1.5 inches in Humboldt, and 1.10 inches in Fort Dodge. Another system brought more funnel clouds and weak tornadoes to north-central Iowa on May 9.
Parts of Missouri also experienced severe storms and widespread power outages at midweek, including a tornado in Aurora that caused considerable damage.
The unsettled weather limited fieldwork and spring planting in the region. Corn planting as of May 5 was 67% complete in Missouri, 47% in Iowa, and 31% in Nebraska, while soybean planting had progressed to 30% in Iowa and Missouri and 18% in Nebraska. Iowa and Nebraska were trailing the average pace for both crops, while Missouri was tracking ahead of average.
Missouri growers also had 77% of the rice and 34% of the cotton planted by May 5, with both tracking ahead of the average pace.
Northern Plains:
Scattered rains were reported across southern Minnesota early in the week, with stronger storms expected as the week progressed. Highs in the low- to mid-70s were reported in the Twin Cities area at midweek.
Similar conditions were reported in the Dakotas, but the wet weather was clearing out as the week progressed. Highs in the 70s over the coming weekend raised hopes that spring planting would ramp up quickly once again across the region.
As of May 5, corn planting had progressed to 42% complete in Minnesota, 18% in South Dakota, and 11% in North Dakota, with soybean planting estimated at 17% complete in Minnesota, 10% in South Dakota, and 3% in North Dakota. South Dakota growers also had 16% of the sorghum crop planted by that date, while sugar beet planting was rated at 78-83% complete in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Small grains planting was advancing quickly in the region, with spring wheat and oats estimated at 75-79% complete in South Dakota, 51-57% in Minnesota, and 24-32% in North Dakota by May 5. Barley planting was rated at 37% complete in Minnesota and 23% in North Dakota.
Northeast:
Showers and thunderstorms moved through much of the Northeast during the week, with severe weather reported in some areas.
Parts of southern New England were hit with ping pong-sized hail at midweek, while tornado and flash flood warnings were in effect for western Pennsylvania. Maryland also saw thunderstorm activity at midweek, but calmer weather was in the weekend forecast for most of the region, with temperatures expected to peak in the 60s.
Pennsylvania growers had 23% of the corn planted by May 5, ahead of the 14% five-year average.
Eastern Canada:
Thunderstorms churned through southern Ontario and Quebec at midweek, producing heavy rain, large hail, and strong winds in some areas. More rain was in the forecast as the week advanced, though temperatures were warming.
The previous weekend brought heavy rainfall to eastern parts of the Maritimes, with additional rainfall reported in eastern Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island at the start of the week. Some areas reportedly collected more than four inches of rain, though dry weather was expected for the balance of the week.
“Things are just starting to get going, but not wide open yet,” commented one Ontario contact at midweek. “We’ve had a lot of wet weather lately.”