Eastern Cornbelt:
Rain and cooler temperatures spread across southern Illinois late in the week, while warm weather and gusty winds were reported in northern areas of the state.
Highs in the 70s were reported in central Indiana at midweek, but rain and strong winds moved in as the week progressed. Highs in the low-70s were also reported across northern Ohio during the week, with wind and rain expected on March 11-12.
Western Cornbelt:
Just three weeks after historic low temperatures blanketed much of Iowa, the state posted several daily record highs on March 10, including 75 degrees in Des Moines, 72 degrees in Ottumwa, and 69 degrees in Waterloo.
Parts of Nebraska also enjoyed the warmest first ten days of March on record. A powerful cold front was moving in as the week progressed, however, with weekend forecasts warning of 1-3 inches of rain in the Lincoln area and as much as 20-40 inches of snow in parts of western Nebraska, eastern Wyoming, South Dakota, and Colorado.
Heavy rainfall was also expected across central and southern Missouri over the coming weekend, with totals ranging from 1-4 inches and temperatures dropping to the 40s and low-50s.
Southern Plains:
Sources reported favorable weather for fieldwork across much of the Southern Plains during the week, with reports of brisk topdress activity on wheat, pastures, rye grass, and oats. Sources also described a heavy corn planting pace in central Texas.
A strong weather system was taking aim at the region later in the week, however, with forecasts warning of severe thunderstorms for portions of western and central Texas, western Oklahoma, and southern Kansas on March 12-13. Large hail and damaging wind gusts were the primary threats, with the eastern halves of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas moving in the crosshairs on March 14.
“We’re supposed to get rain over the weekend, with forecasts showing 1-4 inches expected across Kansas, with the heaviest in the east,” said one Kansas contact. “It would be good to get a couple inches across the entire state, as the driest areas are in the west and north-central. The wheat could use a good drink.”
South Central:
Warm, breezy weather was reported across much of the South Central region during the week, with highs reaching the low- to mid-70s in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas.
Showers were expected over the weekend along the Tennessee/Kentucky state line and across Arkansas, with forecasts warning of potentially damaging winds and hail. Weekend storms were also possible in northern Louisiana and northwestern Mississippi.
President Biden on March 9 issued a major disaster declaration for Louisiana following last month’s bitterly cold weather, when winter storms knocked out power and water in parts of the state for up to a week. Federal aid will be available across 23 parishes, including grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans for property losses, and other assistance for individuals and businesses.
Southeast:
Spring-like weather conditions were reported across most of the Southeast during the week, with temperatures climbing to the mid- to upper-70s in the Carolinas, Virginia, Alabama, and Georgia. The dry weather, coupled with gusty winds, prompted Virginia authorities to issue an elevated wildfire risk advisory at midweek for several counties.
Temperatures in the low-80s were reported in central and southern Florida during the week, with sources describing fieldwork and spring fertilizer application as “very busy” at midweek. The warm, sunny weather followed a period of heavy rain and gusty winds across much of southern Florida on March 6.
“We are finally getting some sunny, dry weather this week,” said one Georgia contact. “Nitrate application is going on small grains and base fertilizer is going out on corn.” Others also reported the application season “breaking hard” after the recent stretch of dry weather.