Some moisture and temperatures close to normal. This is the MAT Planting Forecast, brought to you by Michigan Agricultural Commodities. MAC remains open to provide services in grain marketing, agronomy and specialty grain options. Visit MichAg.com for more information.
Between now and midweek next week, there’s a few weather systems that will be bringing moisture. According to MAT chief meteorologist Ryan Martin, Michigan won’t be spared.
“It looks like our first significant wave of moisture develops through the day on Sunday, and at this point may linger past sunrise Sunday morning,” said Martin. “I’m liking moisture totals over most of the southern half of lower Michigan between a quarter and six-tenths of an inch—fairly light rain. It’s not going to be a gully washer, but we’re not going to be doing any drying.”
The next wave of moisture should arrive midweek, but there could be a few scattered showers overnight Monday that could give Western Michigan a quarter inch of rain.
“The Wednesday system has anywhere from a quarter to one inch with entire state-wide coverage,” said Martin.
If you’re looking for some excitement with temperatures, Martin said you’re not going to find it.
“I don’t see any significant warm air—I think we’ll be near normal,” he said. “I’m also not concerned near as much about a cold air fall-off. As the rain systems are moving through Saturday and Wednesday, that’s when we’re going to be seeing our cooler temperatures—lack of sunlight.”
From Thursday forward, Martin said there’s going to be a “significant surge” of warmer air across the state with normal to above normal temperatures headed into early May.
Once the weather systems on Saturday, Monday night and next Wednesday pass through the state, things are going to start to turn dry.
“After that’s done, we’re looking at a dry stretch opening up starting next Thursday and potentially going all the way through May 10,” said Martin. “There’s some iffy points in there, but I’m erring on the drier side of things right now.”
He said this dry window is a good chance to get field work done.
“It’s going to take two or three days in that dry stretch to really dry things down, but from there forward, we’ve got a chance to get a run and get this crop in the field.”
