A combine and tractor/grain cart combo sit idled Tuesday near a wheat field southeast of Kimball. Though this year’s crop has mostly turned color, coolish weather and precipitation continues to slow ripening and harvest may not hit high gear before the end of the month.

High barometric pressure was the norm across much of the tri-state region over the last week, one part of a meteorological equation making for hot, dry weather and clear skies – perfect conditions for wheat harvest. Unfortunately, much of the winter wheat crop across the region is not yet ready to combine. Producers began test cutting in selected locations and in a few scattered areas began harvesting in earnest. However, the long cool spring and below average summer temperatures have delayed crop maturity at least eight days behind average thus far.

In the south Panhandle, most of the wheat remained too wet to safely harvest and continued to dry down in the field through the weekend as producers kept an anxious eye on the weather. Scattered thunderstorms brought drenching rains to localized areas Sunday and Monday, and cool, damp air moved into the region Tuesday. Given the general maturity of wheat stands across the region, coupled with the likelihood of continued coolish weather and precipitation, wheat harvest may be substantially delayed this year.

NWS Outlook

During the next few days, near- to below-normal temperatures in the north will contrast with hot weather across much of the remainder of the U.S. During the weekend, however, heat will build across the East and West, while cooler air will overspread the central and southern plains. Meanwhile, frequent showers during the next five days will result in rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches, with locally higher amounts, across the northern plains, Midwest, and Northeast. Elsewhere, significant rainfall activity will be confined to the Gulf Coast region and the Four Corners States. Toward week’s end, a tropical disturbance currently near Puerto Rico may approach the southern Atlantic Coast, bearing heavy rain. The National Weather Service (NWS) outlook through July 29 calls for a continuation of near- to above-normal temperatures nationwide. Hot weather will be most likely in the Ohio Valley. Meanwhile, near- to above-normal precipitation across the majority of the U.S. will contrast with drier-than-normal conditions from the southeastern Plains into the Southeast.

For the complete article see the 07-23-2010 issue.

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