Across the Corn Belt, near- or below-normal temperatures favor reproductive to filling summer crops. In fact, Friday’s high temperatures will remain below 85°F throughout the Midwest, except in the middle Missouri Valley. However, dry weather and diminishing soil moisture reserves remain a concern, especially in parts of the western Corn Belt. On July 24, topsoil moisture was rated 68% very short to short in Nebraska.
On the Plains, lingering heat is confined to Texas and southern Oklahoma.
