A late-week cold snap ended the growing season, roughly on schedule, across much of the Upper Midwest. Although the freeze was not unusually early, some crops were developmentally delayed due to late planting and a relatively cool summer. As a result, producers in freeze-affected areas monitored immature corn and soybeans for signs of injury.

By October 5, approximately 20 percent of the U.S. corn production area had experienced a freeze. Prior to the cold outbreak, much of the central and eastern U.S. had experienced several days of warm weather, followed by locally heavy rainfall.

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Some of the heaviest precipitation, locally 2 to 4 inches or more, fell in the middle Mississippi and lower Missouri Valleys. Rain also soaked portions of the Deep South  and the northern High Plains—especially an area centered on western sections of Nebraska and South Dakota .

In contrast, mostly dry weather prevailed from the Pacific Coast to the southern Plains. Initially, a period of cool weather dominated the West. However, record-setting warmth arrived along the Pacific Coast during the second half of the week and gradually spread inland. As a result, late-week temperatures reached or exceeded 100° F in parts of California  and the desert Southwest .

All graphics courtesy of USDA, NOAA, Department of Commerce

Read the full WAOB report from USDA.