Eastern Cornbelt:
Cold, wet weather continued to limit spring fieldwork in the Eastern Cornbelt. Up to three-quarters of an inch of rain was reported in central Illinois during the week, with forecasts warning of snow flurries on March 17-18 as weekend temperatures drop to the 20s and 30s.
Similar conditions were reported in central Indiana, with forecasts warning of steady rains on March 16 and a mix of rain and snow on March 17. Weekend highs in the state were expected to only reach the 30s, with more snow flurries likely on March 18.
A winter weather advisory was in effect for parts of northern Ohio at midweek, with 1-3 inches of lake effect snow expected. Central Ohio was expecting rainfall late in the week, with highs falling from the 50s to the 30s on March 17.
Western Cornbelt:
Highs climbed to the 40s and 50s in Iowa at midweek, but cooler and wetter weather was on tap for the end of the week. Much of the state was bracing for a cold and windy weekend, with highs struggling to climb out of the 30s in many locations, and wind chills remaining in the teens.
Winter kept its grip on Nebraska as well. After seeing temperatures at midweek reach the mid-60s in northern Nebraska and close to 70 in central areas of the state, winter weather warning and advisories went into effect on March 16, with forecasts warning of 2-7 inches of snow and 55 mph winds.
Central Missouri was hit with rainfall late in the week, with highs dropping from the 60s at midweek to the low-40s by March 17. By the weekend, high temperatures across central Missouri were expected to remain in the low-30s, with wind chills dropping to the 20s.
The weather continued to delay spring fieldwork in most areas, although Missouri contacts reported “minimal pasture fertilization taking place at this time.”
Southern Plains:
Although highs reached the 50s and low-60s across Kansas early in the week, conditions turned wet and cold as the week progressed, with highs dropping to the 40s and some western and northern areas of the state seeing a mix of rain and snow.
Oklahoma was bracing for potentially severe weather on March 16, with forecasts warning of large hail, high winds, and possible tornado activity. Strong storms were also expected to produce hail and high winds across central and northern Texas on March 16, with near-freezing temperatures moving into northern Texas on March 17.
A cold front was also taking aim at New Mexico late in the week, with rain and snow in the forecast for the western, central, and northern parts of the state on March 16-17. Freezing temperatures and snow returned to Colorado’s Front Range during the week after a brief period of springlike weather.
Dry conditions in parts of Kansas were taking a toll on winter wheat, with one source reporting a minimum 40% winter kill in north-central areas of the state. “Wheat conditions are going backward,” he said.
“Corn is pretty much done and emerging nicely for the most part,” reported one Texas source. “A little cold for the cotton guys with the front this week, but by this time next month it will be well underway.”
South Central:
Multiple storms were tracking through the South Central region late in the week, with severe weather reported in some areas.
Thunderstorms in southern Arkansas on March 16 produced strong winds and hail in some locations, with widespread rain across the state. Damaging winds, hail, and an elevated tornado risk were also reported in Louisiana and Mississippi on March 16-17, along with significant rainfall in some locations.
Kentucky was bracing for significantly cooler weather by the coming weekend, with highs dropping to the low-40s and upper-30s on March 17-18, well below the mid-60s reported at midweek.
“It’s been wet, so wheat applications are being done mostly by plane,” said one regional contact at midweek. He noted that the Louisiana market has been more active with the movement of corn fertilizer, “but that has also slowed off a bit this week with some rain.”
Southeast:
Cool temperatures and spotty showers were reported across the Southeast during the week. A freeze warning was in effect at midweek for portions of North Carolina, with temperatures dropping to the 20s in the mountains and north-central areas of the state.
Alabama was bracing for thunderstorms on March 16, with forecasts warning of potentially damaging wind gusts and a chance of tornado activity in northwestern areas of the state. Much cooler weather was on tap for the weekend, with lows expected to drop to the 20s and 30s in parts of Alabama.
Dry weather was reported across most of Florida after a wet weekend, with high temperatures reaching the 60s and 70s and lows dropping to the 40s and 50s. Rain was expected to return to central Florida over the coming weekend, however.