Tuesday was a hot day across the entire Midwest, and another very stressful day for crops. High temperatures in most of the region were in the mid 90's to low 100's, with nearly every state in the Midwest having at least one location reaching 100 degrees or higher. 100 degree temps occurred as far north as from southeastern SD eastward into southern WI and lower MI. A few of the highest readings included 102 at Topeka, KS, 103 at St. Louis, MO, and 105 at O'Neill, NE.

This heat is occurring at a time when crops in most of the Midwest have little soil moisture to help out. Following are the combined percentages of topsoil and subsoil moisture listed in the very short and short categories across the Midwest. IA - 92%, 89%, SD - 89%, 85%, NE - 92%, 92%, KS - 89%, 89%, MO - 98%, 98%, MN - 53%, N/A, WI - 82% for combined top and sub, MI - 93%, 91%, IL - 98%, 96%, IN - 97%, 97%, OH -94%, N/A, KY - 79%, 85%.

A weak cool front will drop southward into the Midwest through late week. This will cool temps into the 80's for highs into late week across the far northern and eastern Midwest, while the rest of the region still has highs in the 90's to around 100. This system will produce chances for scattered showers and t- storms over the next 48 hours, but coverage of rain will be quite spotty in the western and central Midwest, with only scattered coverage of 0.10-0.50" rainfall and only isolated heavier amounts.

Best coverage and amounts of rain will occur in the eastern Midwest with amounts of 0.50" or more expected in the eastern 3/4 of IN and KY, southern MI, and OH. Best chances for some 1.00"+ amounts would be in the eastern 1/2 of KY, eastern IN, far southeastern MI, and OH. Most of the region will be dry later Friday into early next week, with hotter temps spreading back northward and eastward.

Most of the Midwest will have highs in the 90's/low 100's. The next chance for some rain will be about mid to late next week, with best amounts favoring the far eastern Midwest.

Some cooling will occur behind this cool front late next week. Our 6-10 day forecast calls for July 24 to 28 calls for much above normal temps in most of the Midwest. Rainfall is forecast to be below normal in most areas, with near to above normal amounts in the far east.

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