Eastern Cornbelt:
Temperatures in the 90s were reported in Illinois and Indiana during the week, while parts of central Indiana were hit with strong thunderstorms at midweek, with forecasts warning of damaging winds, hail, and local heavy rain.
Scattered showers also tracked through central Ohio at midweek, with highs reaching the 80s. Hot and hazy conditions were reported in northern Michigan during the week due to smoke from Canadian wildfires.
Crop conditions were in great shape in the region. Good or excellent ratings were assigned to 75-76% of the corn and soybeans in Illinois on July 21, compared with 68-69% in Indiana, 65-68% in Ohio, and 63-68% in Michigan.
Western Cornbelt:
Scattered showers were reported in eastern Iowa early in the week, while much of Iowa and Nebraska were expecting highs in the upper-80s and 90s as the week progressed.
USDA rated 78-79% of Missouri’s corn and soybeans as good or excellent on July 21, compared with 75% in Nebraska and 74-75% in Iowa. Good or excellent ratings were also assigned to 61% of Missouri’s cotton and 84% of the state’s rice crop, along with 76% of Nebraska’s sorghum crop.
California:
High heat, wind, and dry conditions fed a wildfire in Butte County that exploded to 45,000 acres on July 25 from just 6,500 acres the night before, prompting evacuations in both Butte and nearby Tehama County.
California’s cotton crop was 100% good or excellent as of July 21, compared with 89% in Arizona. California rice in the good or excellent categories totaled 95% of the crop on that date.
Pacific Northwest:
Much of the Pacific Northwest was under a smoky haze in late July from 60 active wildfires in Oregon and Washington alone, including the massive Durkee fire in Oregon, which had grown to 245,000 acres by midweek.
High temperatures continued to bake the region in late July, sparking strong thunderstorms in Idaho and stressing crops in some areas. Just 41-46% of Washington’s spring wheat and barley were rated as good or excellent on July 21, compared with 60-79% in Idaho and 72-76% in Montana. The winter wheat harvest as of July 21 was 35% complete in Oregon, 10% in Washington, 7% in Idaho, and 3% in Montana.
Western Canada:
A heat warning was issued for southern Manitoba during the week, with temperatures expected to reach 30 C and humidex values climbing to 38 C. Heat warnings were also posted for southern Saskatchewan, with highs reaching 32 C and humidex values topping out at 38 C.
Air quality warnings were in effect across the region due to smoky conditions from at least 170 wildfires in Alberta and British Columbia. Firefighting efforts were hampered by severe thunderstorms that tracked through central Alberta at midweek, producing strong winds and prompting tornado warnings for some locations.