Ag Weather Impacts

Ag Weather Impacts

A pacific disturbance brought showers to most of the Columbia Basin on Monday. Rainfall amounts were mainly just sprinkles across the south, but north of White Swan to Tri Cities measurable rain was observed up to around a tenth of an inch. The upper level disturbance which helped to produce the rain is moving into Idaho and a dry westerly flow will prevail this week. The dry pattern will be good for harvesting grass seed, wheat and canola. Harvesters can expect humidity to drop below 60 percent from around 8 am to 11 pm each day through Friday. This westerly flow will also keep temperatures about 5 degrees below normal for mid July and also may disrupt spraying operations at times since peak winds could exceed 10 mph until Friday. Good hay drying will also prevail this week. A light breeze overnight will keep dew to only light or locally moderate in the irrigated hay fields. Hay balers can plan on afternoon humidity getting progressively lower during the week starting at 25 to 30 percent today and then getting down into the 15 to 25 percent range beginning Thursday. Crop water use will be a little less than normal. Alfalfa, corn, potatoes, onions, and apples will use between an inch and ¾ and 2 inches. Lawns will need about an inch and a half. Looking toward this weekend early next week, we're seeing high pressure develop over the southwest states 4 corners area. The resulting southwest flow will return warm air to the Columbia Basin and we could see some of our highest temperatures of the summer.
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