Air and soil temperatures remain below normal across Ohio with most soil temperatures below the critical 50 degree level. There is a risk of some frost this Thursday morning and some frost and near freeze conditions this weekend especially north of I-70. This will keep pressure on soil temperatures warming too fast.
The end of April will be not as cool or wet. We will see a round of on/off rain into early Wednesday especially the southeast half of Ohio. Rain totals this week will range from under 0.25 inches in northwest Ohio to 0.5 to 1.0 inches over the south and east sections of the state. Temperatures will average a few degrees below normal this week but nothing like it has been.
The first week of May will bring some good news with above normal temperatures! It will start dry but rain is expected to return by around May 3. Overall, May is shaping up to be closer to normal temperatures but wetter than normal rainfall.
June is looking to be warmer than average with rainfall going from wetter to drier than normal during the month. July is shaping up to be hotter and drier than normal. August is shaping up to be warmer and wetter than normal.
You can keep up-to-date on modified growing degree days from the NOAA Midwest Climate Center at : http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu/cliwatch/mgdd/gdd_maps.html
All areas of the corn and soybean belt are way below normal for growing degree days especially west of Ohio.
The pictures below indicate the latest totals and departures from normal.
