Midwest Weather Improving with Generous Rain, Heat May Return Next Week

August 12, 2011

Growing conditions are set to improve in Midwest corn and soybeans with more rainfall.  Two weather disturbances in the next week would produce more than one inch of rainfall, easing drought.   Temperatures would be mixed,  relatively cool in the Eastern Corn Belt but turning hotter and more humid next week in the Great Plains - Western Corn Belt.

 

Powerful Thunderstorms Overnight
 

Strong thunderstorms broke out this morning in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. 

 

This wave of showers pushed eastward, bringing scattered and variable showers to Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.  See the satellite image below:

 

The chance for recurring showers is high today in the western and northern corn and soybean growing areas.   Tomorrow, strong thunderstorms would track across the Eastern Midwest.

 

 

 

 

Just as anticipated, the revised Midwest rainfall forecast is wetter.  Very heavy rainfall is  predicted with a rather slow-moving storm front.   See the attached 3-day rainfall forecast showing wetness across the board in the corn and soybean growing areas.   Northern spring wheat also would get rain, unwanted in North Dakota due to already-wet fields. 

 

More than one inch of rainfall, the normal Midwest weekly amount, is expected:

 

 

Cool high pressure would settle into the Midwest in the wake of this disturbance.    Very pleasant cool and dry weather would dominate Sunday and Monday.   However, by Monday afternoon or evening , a fresh band of thunderstorms would threaten the Upper Midwest and Nebraska.

 

The second wave of thunderstorms would develop along an advancing warm front in the western corn belt.

 

Increased humidity comes along with the showers.   See hotter nighttime temperatures on the forecast  Monday in the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota.   In fact,  night lows are expected to be above normal most of the week in the Central-Northern Great Plains:

 

Heat Wave in Rockies Expands into Heartland 

A dome of hot air will build up in the Rocky Mountains causing heat wave conditions Monday.  

 

As the ridge moves east,  heat would expand into the Central United States  including the Northern Great Plains – Upper Midwest.   The 6-10 day temperature outlook shows the spreading heat.  

 

At the same time,  the Northern Midwest would be getting good rainfall next week, shown on the 6-10 day forecast.   The better rainfall chances would come from a traveling storm near the US-Canadian border.

 

The short-wave disturbance would flatten (weaken) the heat dome.  That explains the wetter forecast in the Upper Midwest next week.  

 

Open the August 12 US Weather Maps for more information