The 90-day forecast from the National Weather Service calls for elevated chances for above-normal temps over virtually the entire U.S. through September. The forecast suggests below-normal precip is likely across the west-central and southwestern Corn Belt, while the remainder of the region will have “equal chances for above-, below- and normal rainfall during the three-month period. Above-normal rainfall is likely across the Delta and Southeast through September.
The Seasonal Drought Outlook calls for drought conditions to develop from southeastern Iowa and northeastern Missouri across the northern two-thirds of Illinois and most of Indiana and Ohio through September. Drought is also likely to develop or persist in southeastern Nebraska, most of Kansas and western Oklahoma.
Across the Corn Belt, dryness/drought covered 8% of North Dakota, 26% of South Dakota, 19% of Nebraska, 55% of Kansas, 31% of Iowa, 18% of Missouri, 44% of Illinois, 74% of Indiana, 55% of Ohio, 4% of Wisconsin, 10% of Michigan and none of Minnesota. The majority of those dry areas of the Corn Belt were D0 (abnormally dry).