Very cold conditions are expected to move into the Plains and Midwest this upcoming weekend, with the coldest temperatures expected to occur Sunday and Monday mornings. Snow is expected to precede the cold blast, which should build protective insulation for wheat in the northern Midwest and western Plains. However, some areas will likely see only very light accumulations which may result in some winterkill for wheat.
“The areas of greatest concern for damage appear to be in northern Kansas, southern Nebraska, northern Missouri, southern Iowa and far west central Illinois,” said Don Keeney, Senior Agricultural Meteorologist for MDA Weather Services. “Temperatures in these areas will likely drop well below 0F on Sunday and Monday mornings, and given the expected thin snow cover, some winterkill losses will be possible.”
Temperatures should begin to moderate considerably next week, which will end any additional threats in the region.
Source: MDA Weather Services news release
