Excellent planting and field work prospects for the upcoming week to 10 days, as we move into a longer term dry pattern over the state of Michigan. A few lingering showers may be around to start Saturday, especially over the northern third of lower Michigan, remnants of a front that moved through Friday and Friday night. However, in many other areas, we should see clouds giving way to sunshine through the rest of Saturday, before we clear out completely overnight Saturday night.
We are sunny, warm and dry from Sunday through next Sunday with above normal temps and maximum daily evaporation rates of nearly 0.3” each day. Soils should work up quite nicely. Even in areas that got the higher end of the rain ranges Friday overnight will be able to get into the fields by Tuesday at the latest, and likely sooner. The map below shows the 10 day precipitation outlook vs. normal—keep in mind, we see no rain through the next week.
We do see a frontal complex developing to our west late in the week, but with an upper level ridge in play here, that action does not move east very fast at all. As such, we are looking for our next threat of rain to move into the Great Lakes on Memorial Day next Monday with a threat of 0.1” to 0.5” and coverage at 70% of Michigan. That moisture winds down overnight Monday night the 29th.
Extended Period:
We go back to a dry forecast pattern for the entire extended period, from Tuesday, May 30 through Sunday, June 4. Temps remain normal to above normal. If there are any straggling fields to get planted, there is plenty of opportunity as we finish May to get them completed.
Weeks 3 & 4:
Dry weather extends into weeks 3 and 4. We are well below normal on precipitation for week 3, and near to below normal for week 4. Temps will be well above normal both weeks. So, while the forecast is good for planting, we likely will start to hear some complaints about “needing a rain” as we move toward mid-June.
Week 3 Precipitation (Green = above normal, Brown = below)
Week 3 Temperatures (yellow/orange = above normal, blue = below)
Week 4 Precipitation (Green = above normal, Brown = below)
Week 4 Temperatures (yellow/orange = above normal, blue = below)
