Eastern Cornbelt:
Strong storms left thousands without power in Illinois on May 21 and prompted road closures due to blowing dust, with tornado watches in effect for multiple counties in the state. Severe weather was also reported in central Ohio on May 22, with forecasts warning of strong winds and hail.
Indiana recorded unseasonably hot and humid conditions at midweek, with highs approaching the 90s in central portions of the state.
Illinois growers had 58-67% of the corn and soybeans planted by May 16, compared with 49-54% in Indiana and 41-46% in Ohio. Planting progress in Michigan was estimated at 50% complete for corn and 42% for soybeans by that date.
Western Cornbelt:
Powerful storms churned through Nebraska and Iowa on May 21, producing large hail, torrential rains, and several deadly tornadoes.
Omaha, Neb., was hit with 90 mph winds and more than five inches of rain in less than two hours, causing flooding and widespread power outages. Iowa saw more intense tornado activity from the storm, causing multiple fatalities and leveling the town of Greenfield, southwest of Des Moines, with what was estimated as an EF-3 strength tornado.
Parts of Missouri were also in the storm’s path, with reports of tornado warnings in effect on May 21 after heat indexes climbed into the 90s.
Wet weather has slowed planting in the region. Corn planting was trailing the five-year average at 79% complete in Nebraska, 78% in Iowa, and 76% in Missouri as of May 19, with soybean planting estimated at 60-61% complete in Iowa and Nebraska and 42% in Missouri. Sorghum planting in Nebraska was particularly delayed at just 14% complete by May 19.
Missouri growers were tracking ahead of schedule on cotton and rice planting, however, with the former estimated at 75% and the latter at 91% complete.
California:
Cooler temperatures were reported across much of California as the week advanced. Northern California posted midweek highs in the upper-80s, but was expecting weekend temperatures in the 70s before possibly touching the low-90s again on Memorial Day.
Cool, cloudy weather was reported across Southern California during the week, with highs struggling to break out of the 60s and possible rain over the weekend.
Cotton planting had progressed to 95-96% complete in California and Arizona by May 19, with both states tracking ahead of their five-year averages. Rice planting in California was lagging slightly at 70% complete, however.
Pacific Northwest:
A May storm blanketed much of western Montana with heavy, wet snow at midweek, causing road closures, downed power lines, and power outages. Rain was in the weekend forecast for parts of the state before a general warmup after Memorial Day.
Planting was rapidly winding down in the Pacific Northwest. Idaho growers had 98% of the sugar beets planted by May 19, while the seeding of spring wheat and barley had progressed to 89-93% complete in Idaho, 79-81% in Montana, and 98-99% in Washington.
Western Canada:
Heavy rain was expected to hit southern Manitoba late in the week, with forecasts warning of 50-60 mm of total precipitation and localized flooding in low-lying areas. Much cooler weather was on tap for the region by the weekend, with snow possible at higher elevations in British Columbia.
Spring seeding was 47% complete in Manitoba by May 22, trailing the 52% five-year average. Field pea planting was 90% complete in the province, while cereals were 70% planted, corn 65%, soybeans 34%, sunflowers 26%, and canola 20%.
Saskatchewan’s crops were 56% planted, below the 76% five-year average, while Alberta’s planting progress was estimated at 32.5% complete as of May 14. Alberta growers had 62.1% of the dry peas planted by mid-month, along with 44.9% of the spring wheat, 32.6% of the barley, 14% of the oats, and 14.9% of the canola.
“We are probably just starting to wind down in our area,” said one Saskatchewan contact at midweek. “Seeding conditions have been favorable. We had some nice moisture throughout May for a nice seed bed, and hopefully it keeps coming.”