Across the Corn Belt, scattered, mostly light showers linger in Iowa and Missouri. Recent rain has mostly bypassed Illinois, where short-term dryness is a concern for reproductive corn. Sunny skies are benefiting corn and soybeans development in the Ohio Valley.

Across the Corn Belt, locally heavy showers in Iowa and Missouri are providing beneficial moisture for reproductive corn. Pockets of unfavorable dryness persist in Illinois, while sunny skies are benefiting corn and soybeans in the Ohio Valley in the wake of recent moderate to heavy rainfall.

Across the Corn Belt, mild weather prevails, following an unfavorably hot period during July and early August. Rain is overspreading the western Corn Belt, helping to stabilize corn and soybean yield potential.

Across the Corn Belt, mild, dry weather is promoting corn and soybean development, although pockets of developing drought exist. One of the driest parts of the Midwest stretches from southern Iowa into central Indiana.

Across the Corn Belt, a cold front has exited southern and eastern portions of the region. In the front’s wake, cooler, drier air is overspreading the Midwest. Indianapolis, Indiana, which experienced a record-dry July, will probably see its record-setting, 23-day (July 17 – August 8) streak of 90-degree readings end Tuesday.

Across the Corn Belt, beneficial showers and thunderstorms are overspreading areas west of the Mississippi River. Meanwhile, unfavorably hot weather persists across the southern tier of the region, including the Ohio and middle Mississippi Valleys.

During the next 5 days, excessively hot and oppressively humid conditions will persist across the south-central and southeastern U.S., while progressively cooler and less humid air will overspread the central Plains and the Midwest.

Tropical system “Emily”, currently over the Caribbean Sea will approach the southeastern U.S. by week’s end. Emily’s size, strength, and track will determine U.S. impacts, including how much rain will fall.

Across the Corn Belt, thunderstorms are replenishing soil moisture reserves across northern crop areas, but unfavorably hot, dry conditions are stressing corn and soybeans across the remainder of the Midwest.

Across the Corn Belt, a surge of heat is bringing renewed stress to corn and soybeans, especially in areas that have been trending dry in recent weeks. Meanwhile, thunderstorms are crossing the far upper Midwest, including the eastern Dakotas and central Minnesota.