For much of 2023 growing season, rainfall was extreme across parts of the high plains with late spring and summer rains. In terms of percent of normal, some locations saw 2 to 3 times what is "normal". At the same time the eastern part of the plains had limited (seasonal averages) rainfall with increasing drought conditions. Now that the jetstream across the northern hemisphere is increasing in strength, the weather pattern is in the process of "reforming" into what is hopefully a favorable one for crop producers. A clear picture won't be known for several months but clues will start to emerge soon.
Even though rainfall this past few weeks has been minimal for much of the high plains, late August and early September storms brought some decent moisture (except for some up in northwest Kansas). A map of rainfall this past 30 days ending 9/24 illustrates the beneficial amounts for many locations....
The recent (9/21-23) storms across mainly Nebraska, far eastern Kansas and eastern Oklahoma (and points east) is part of the earlier weather pattern (shifted climatologically east) and perhaps a glimpse into what is starting to develop. I want to start seeing weather systems deepen into the central and southern Rockies to be encouraged. Some of the long-range computer forecast models have been hinting at decent moisture for October. I'm not "sold" just yet.
For the subscribers to my weekly weather outlook reports at Hutton Weather Futures, I will be carefully analyzing the new developing weather pattern and will be looking for "clues" of what may impact the Great Plains later this fall, winter and going through the next growing season. Take advantage of the September special pricing for these outlook reports. You will get these weekly reports for October and November (2 months for the normal price of 1 month). You can subscribe using this link https://pay.huttonweatherfutures.com/September_special or go to https://huttonweatherfutures.com.
